Briefly analysed
Professional and sustainable Public Engagement requires networking and exchange. This is one of the reasons why the Berlin School of Public Engagement and Open Sience, together with us grasshopper kreativ, created the First Steps Symposium. The vision: establish a community that works together to drive cultural change. First Steps took place at the beginning of the September. We used one week to orient ourselves as a community: What does Public Engagement mean to us? Where is action needed? How can culture change work? With this blog post, we’d like to provide a glimpse into First Steps. At the end, there is an outlook on what’s next.
Each of us has wishes and visions for the field of Public Engagement. Often a “stronger networking” is desired. During the symposium, we took the first steps in this direction. We got to know each other as a community and looked at where we are: Where are we located with which projects? What language do we use and with what definitions? And what are our shared values of Public Engagement?
Shared values and definitions
Some of the community members have come together in working groups. If we want to achieve a cultural change and be perceived as a community, a common language is necessary. Some terms are not used consistently in Germany and often differ from their international definition – starting with Public Engagement. We should therefore question existing terms in a transparent process. In one session we talked about initial terminology. One working group is working on a common language and definitions and will create a glossary.
Sustainable establishment and professionalization also require a minimum consensus. For example, the community agrees that Public Engagement should become an integral part of research institutions. A working paper on a minimum consensus is currently being drafted. The results of the working groups are always reflected within the community. If you got interested in participating, we are happy if you join. The First Steps platform is still open for exchange. Everybody – no matter what professional background – is welcome.
Change of perspective
We also thought about what skills Public Engagement professionals need in the first place and to which professional groups they could be assigned. An initial overview of this is available on Miro. A helpful skill in the Public Engagement field is to adopt a change of perspective. We can draw inspiration for this from our national and international colleagues.
During the exchange with them, it became clear that it is important to define goals: Where do we want to go and how can we design the process to include diverse expertise? We should always reflect on this and make it transparent. After completion of projects, it is important to question them: Did the project achieve the goal of Public Engagement? What are learning experiences? If something didn’t work, that’s not a bad thing. That should also be documented and shared with the community. Germany needs an open error culture. It should be established – also exchanging ideas about projects and learning from the approaches of others.
Open and transparent exchange
Open and transparent exchange within the community is an opportunity for Public Engagement. Equally important is the exchange with the public and stakeholders. This is the only way to find out how processes can be shaped in a sustainable manner. Scientists alone cannot manage this process and the processes involved. Public Engagement professionals should work together with the research community on an equal footing. Public Engagement is neither PR nor marketing – but an approach for a new scientific culture.
Public Engagement is geared toward social impact. International expertise is helpful here. We can draw on this in Germany. In Egypt, Chile, Sweden, Canada, Scotland and England, some of our colleagues are confronted with similar problems. Cultural change is shaped by the respective circumstances, but there are always comparable scenarios and approaches from which we can learn from others. Major issues are the long-term financial support of Public Engagement, and a systematic development of professional positions and their further qualification. Both are crucial for the sustainable development of the field.
Next Steps
First Steps was just the beginning. We are pleased that working groups have already been formed to continue discussions and to remain in long-term exchange. The community is motivated to initiate and accompany a cultural change. We are happy if you (if you are not yet) become part of the community. You can register on our platform. The Next Steps are already underway. We are currently working on organizing new sessions and exchange opportunities – for a culture change in public engagement.