PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
The aim of this Programme is to make molecular imaging economic and accessible to patients by developing new, fast and easy-to-use chemistry for synthesis of radiopharmaceuticals. These innovations led by a multidisciplinary team of biologists, chemists and physicists will empower emerging scanning technologies and new therapeutic radionuclides. Ultimately our research will impact on the management of patients with oncological, neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
BACKGROUND
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AIMS
OUR AUDIENCE
THE TEAM
Our PE overarching vision :
"Create pathways for diverse communities and patients to engage with our research, contributing to a culture of science and scientists which is open and accessible to all"
This will be achieved through a number of key aims:
o To understand and address the barriers in attending events, in order to increase the diversity of attendees who come to our science events and activities.
o To increase engagement with patients and the clinical community to steer our research & public engagement activities.
o To inspire and engage school children with science, scientific processes and critical thinking to enhance students' science and career aspirations.
o To provide opportunities, resources and training to build capacity and recognition for public engagement within MITHRAS, encouraging staff and students, at all levels, to be involved and develop.
We will tailor our activities to focus on certain public groups. By identifying interests within communities we can ensure that research and engagement activities are of the highest quality
In particular, we will target:
o Patients that have undergone or may have PET scanning, for diagnosis or disease monitoring. Since this group is directly affected by our research we hope to it will lead to better informed researchers.
o The general public (non-scientists), particularly focusing on links with local communities; here we hope to inform about the science behind our research and how the technologies developed are used in medicine.
o Primary and secondary school-aged children to inform and inspire them about the science behind our research and introduce different STEM careers.
PAST EVENTS
Dr Samantha Terry
Samantha leads our PE programme, she is an advocate for public engagement of biosciences research, having organised a number of events about radiation biology she was a recipient of the 2018 Outreach and Engagement Award from the Royal Society of Biology.
Our team is also supported by the Wellcome/EPSRC Centre for Medical Engineering's public engagement officers who offer training, resources, funding and opportunities to get involved in public engagement.
Contact us:
Samantha Terry at samantha.terry@kcl.ac.uk, or mithras-programme@kcl.ac.uk .
Prof. Gill Reid
Gill Reid is also guiding PE activities, having extensive experience leading chemistry outreach work and currently chairs the RSC Outreach Working Group and is the president elect of the RSC.
Deanne Naula
Deanne Naula is the community engagement officer for the programme, building connections and a programme of events and projects in collaboration with local community partners.
