Endocrine Abstracts

Engaging with the public is becoming a key part of any research career and enables us to share our passion for endocrine research with the world, show how charity and government funding for endocrinology leads to new treatments and encourages the next generation of endocrine researchers. Whilst as researchers we are used to presenting our research at conferences and networking with our peers, engaging with the public about our research can be a daunting prospect. This talk will focus on the numerous different opportunities available to researchers to engage with the public. We will look at opportunities to take part in structured activities run by the Society of Endocrinology and other charities at numerous big science events throughout the year to help convey the wonders of endocrinology. We will also discuss how to create your own interactive stand at public engagement events organised locally within your own institute or department and talk about formal training available to researchers to learn how to engage with the public. For those interested, we will also discuss how to create your own events and provide practical advice on advertising, applying for funding and how to get the most out of these events. Opportunities to engage with the public on a smaller scale will also be discussed, such as presenting your research to local patient groups and using social media to engage with the public and patient groups. This talk will also offer advice on how to pitch your science in a way that makes your research accessible to the public and will give tips on how to tackle potentially tricky questions that can arise, with the aim of providing you with the tools to engage with the public in a way that works for you.