The University of Warwick and the Royal Institution (Ri) have signed a bold new Memorandum of Understanding, establishing the University as a regional hub for science public engagement across the Midlands.
Senior staff from both organisations gathered on Thursday 21 May to mark the occasion, which signals a significant step forward in connecting world-class research with public audiences at a national and regional level.
Under the agreement, the two institutions will collaborate on:
- The development and delivery of collaborative activities for the purposes of public engagement and outreach
- Delivering training activities for members of both parties
- Joint research projects to facilitate and enhance these activities
Professor Caroline Meyer, Provost, University of Warwick said: "The University of Warwick has just celebrated sixty years of world-leading education, and this partnership with the Royal Institution, an institution with over two centuries of bringing science to the public, marks an exciting next chapter. Together, we can reach communities across the Midlands and beyond, inspiring the next generation of scientists."
Warwick has a longstanding and proud relationship with the Royal Institution, from the 1978 Christmas Lectures delivered by Warwick founding Professor Christopher Zeeman, to the collaborative work taking place today. The new partnership, supported by the Warwick Institute of Engagement, has already seen Ri training events hosted on campus and future speaker events planned at Warwick - continuing a shared commitment to inspiring curiosity, discovery and public engagement.
Katherine Mathieson, Director of the Royal Institution, said: "This exciting new partnership directly meets our charitable aims to reach more people with science, deepen their engagement, and inspire students of all ages to have a future with science. We know that the UK public wants to see and hear more about science, and we know that scientific research is better when the public is involved. So, we are delighted to be combining our heritage of scientific discovery, demonstrations and pioneering public engagement, with the leading-edge research being undertaken at Warwick."
The Royal Institution is already a partner in a new EPSRC+ fellowship, led by Dr Alex Baker in the Department of Chemistry at Warwick. The fellowship aims to develop novel cell-free synthetic antibodies, using snake venoms as a model system, but a central strand of the programme focuses on public engagement around neglected tropical diseases and chemistry more broadly. With the support of the Warwick Institute for Engagement, the project will involve working with schools from the Midlands and London to research the best practice in science communication with young people.
Dr Alex Baker, Assistant Professor, University of Warwick said: "This partnership embodies the kind of work we are trying to do. Neglected tropical diseases are not simply a scientific challenge - they are a public awareness challenge too, and you cannot solve that alone. Having the Royal Institution and the University of Warwick working together in a formal, sustained way means we can reach schools and communities across the Midlands with genuine credibility and scale. That is what gives me confidence that this programme can make a real difference."
