| At the University of Birmingham our goal is to be the leading university in the midlands for Public Engagement activities in partnership with you! We are reaching out to those interested in or actively engaged in activities related to research in Environment and Geosciences and as such want to learn from you how we can more effectively partner with you for mutual gain. Help us shape the future of Public Engagement in the West Midlands and surrounds / Central England. |
| Linking with the high profile re-opening of the Lapworth Museum of Geology in June 2016, we are hosting three select Sandbox events between 30th June and 1st July 2016 to initiate a network of active and engaged stakeholders, spanning special interest groups, amateur societies, schools, business and industry and the public sector. Our sandbox events are meetings that aim to bring together a cross section of these different groups. The Environment and GeoSciences (EGS) network is envisaged as a forum for sharing, collaborating with and communicating regional events and opportunities from across the midlands and beyond. |
| The primary focus of the University of Birmingham EGS sandbox is to identify opportunities to further develop these linkages and co-develop events / activities / knowledge exchange opportunities across a range of themes matched to the expertise in the University. Each sandbox will feature a high profile scientist / public engagement hero providing a context and stimulus, a buffet lunch or dinner, networking opportunities, and then a brainstorming activity and report-out. Children are welcome and will be well entertained with supervised activities and treats in the museum. Each is anticipated to last approximately 2.5 hours with food, refreshments, children’s entertainment provided in the Lapworth museum. |
| The sandboxes will take place in the newly re-opened Lapworth Museum on the University of Birmingham Edgbaston campus (building R4 on the campus map). Speakers at the events will be Dougal Jerram (1st July) and ‘Teacher at Sea’ Angela Bentley (2nd July) [the 30th June speaker will be confirmed shortly]. On-campus parking will be available, or alternatively the campus is accessible by train as the university has its own train station. |
Key themes, linked to research strengths in Life & Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham and with enormous scope for collaborative partnerships, to be addressed at the Sandboxes include:
- Food-Water-Energy interactions
- Sustainable cities and communities
- Climate Action: change, variability and impacts
- Conflict and mass migration
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Dates and times are as follows:
- 30th June (6–8.30 pm)
- 1st July (4.30–7.00 pm)
- Saturday 2nd July (1.30–4.00pm)
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| – please select one and register your interest to attend by following the link, by June 25th 2016, or alternatively RSVP by email to LESpublicengagement@contacts.bham.ac.uk indicating your preferred date, number and ages of any accompanying children, and any dietary restrictions. |
| If none of the current dates suit, but you are interested to get involved in future activities or to sign-up to the network email circular to keep informed of upcoming events & opportunities please enter email us at LESpublicengagement@contacts.bham.ac.uk. |
| We look forward to stimulating discussions, emergence of strong collaborative partnerships, and co-development of innovative approaches to connect our research with the wider world, and embedding of engagement with our stakeholder community into our strategic planning. |
| This invite is open so please feel free to forward to anyone or any group who you think might also be interested. |
| On behalf of the PERC & School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, |
