PhD Studentship in ‘Open Science' Public Engagement
We are seeking a motivated graduate to undertake an exciting and innovative interdisciplinary research project. Open Science Public Engagement offers the potential to bring together, in a new way, open science, and public engagement. Open science is an approach in which the whole of an ongoing scientific investigation and its data are made available for anyone to follow, analyse and potentially contribute to. If the (open) science project is of a kind which could be understandable and accessible to a wide range of people, including non-specialists, this opens up the possibility of combining open science and public engagement aspects in a fruitful and symbiotic way. Public engagement therefore potentially becomes integral and beneficial to the experimental methodology.
The studentship is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and will involve collaboration with two innovative research teams. The Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the largest multi-disciplinary robotics research group in the UK. BRL is a collaborative research partnership funded by the University of Bristol, the University of the West of England and HEFCE. The Science Communication Unit (SCU) based at UWE, Bristol, has over ten years of international experience in engaging publics with science and technology in innovative and interesting formats.
The aim of this PhD studentship will be to explore and develop the idea of Open Science Public Engagement. The student will investigate its principles using a case study approach. Potential case studies to draw on may include public and commercial research sectors. For example, two existing projects at the BRL, The Emergence of Artificial Culture in Robot Societies and Symbrion, both have strong open science aspects. It is expected that the research project will incorporate an active creation of an open science public engagement activity as part of the PhD programme, in order to provide a platform for investigation. Furthermore, open science may have ramifications and concerns for scientists, researchers and funders involved in this novel research methodology.
The ideal candidate will be open to new ideas, have a willingness to engage in interdisciplinary work and be an excellent communicator. We are seeking candidates who have a sound scientific background and/or science communication experience. An insight into social science methods would be desirable but is not essential.
For further information about the proposed programme please contact:
Alan Winfield: alan.winfield@uwe.ac.uk; 0117 328 3159
Karen Bultitude: karen.bultitude@uwe.ac.uk; 0117 328 2146
Clare Wilkinson: clare.wilkinson@uwe.ac.uk; 0117 328 2146
www.brl.ac.uk; www.scu.uwe.ac.uk
For more information on how to apply and an application form please contact BIT Graduateschool@uwe.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is Friday 7th November.
Interviews will be held on Friday 28th November (subject to confirmation).
