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Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents

CHIOMA OGBUKAGU, Matthias Eberl Orcid Logo, Natalie Joseph‐Williams Orcid Logo, Sarah Hatch Orcid Logo, Jon Tyrrell Orcid Logo

Immunology & Cell Biology

Swansea University Authors: CHIOMA OGBUKAGU, Jon Tyrrell Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/imcb.70079

Abstract

Public engagement is increasingly central to research, especially in biomedical fields, fostering dialogue between scientists and society, building trust and ensuring real‐world relevance. However, as scientific and clinical progress accelerates, the gap between researchers and the public continues...

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Published in: Immunology & Cell Biology
ISSN: 0818-9641 1440-1711
Published: Wiley 2026
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71250
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However, as scientific and clinical progress accelerates, the gap between researchers and the public continues to widen, underscoring the need for deeper, more meaningful engagement. Despite the acknowledged value of public engagement for both researchers and the public, we know relatively little about academics' views on opportunities and potential barriers to participation. Using questionnaires and interviews, this study captured insights from 99 researchers and professionals across academic disciplines, career stages and geographical and cultural contexts. Respondents consistently regarded public engagement as an important and rewarding aspect of research, teaching and institutional responsibilities, with the potential to enhance public understanding, acceptance and societal impact. However, enthusiasm was tempered by persistent barriers, including academic workloads, inadequate resources and support, and a lack of formal recognition within career progression. 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spelling 2026-01-14T10:48:42.0315202 v2 71250 2026-01-14 Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents 26ea6ee43ef19b9b473c4e82552a2873 CHIOMA OGBUKAGU CHIOMA OGBUKAGU true false ad510c73555adf718387af219e235a6e 0000-0001-8565-2590 Jon Tyrrell Jon Tyrrell true false 2026-01-14 Public engagement is increasingly central to research, especially in biomedical fields, fostering dialogue between scientists and society, building trust and ensuring real‐world relevance. However, as scientific and clinical progress accelerates, the gap between researchers and the public continues to widen, underscoring the need for deeper, more meaningful engagement. Despite the acknowledged value of public engagement for both researchers and the public, we know relatively little about academics' views on opportunities and potential barriers to participation. Using questionnaires and interviews, this study captured insights from 99 researchers and professionals across academic disciplines, career stages and geographical and cultural contexts. Respondents consistently regarded public engagement as an important and rewarding aspect of research, teaching and institutional responsibilities, with the potential to enhance public understanding, acceptance and societal impact. However, enthusiasm was tempered by persistent barriers, including academic workloads, inadequate resources and support, and a lack of formal recognition within career progression. Respondents emphasized the need for systemic reforms to enable greater participation, including tailored training, sustained funding and institutional frameworks that acknowledge and reward engagement. Overall, the findings demonstrate that while motivation for public engagement is widespread, structural and systemic challenges limit its full potential. Addressing these barriers requires coordinated action from universities, funders and policymakers to establish and embed public engagement more consistently as an integral component of academic research and higher education. Journal Article Immunology & Cell Biology 0 Wiley 0818-9641 1440-1711 patient and public involvement, public engagement in research, responsible research and innovation, science communication 9 1 2026 2026-01-09 10.1111/imcb.70079 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee This project was supported by the MSc in Biomedical Science programme at Swansea University (C.M.O. and J.M.T.). 2026-01-14T10:48:42.0315202 2026-01-14T10:37:24.7535643 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science CHIOMA OGBUKAGU 1 Matthias Eberl 0000-0002-9390-5348 2 Natalie Joseph‐Williams 0000-0002-8944-2969 3 Sarah Hatch 0009-0008-9522-7553 4 Jon Tyrrell 0000-0001-8565-2590 5 71250__35991__099663813d704c44a8f31c58ac96f8f2.pdf imcb.70079.pdf 2026-01-14T10:37:24.7339538 Output 2635193 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2026 The Author(s). Immunology & Cell Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology, Inc. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
spellingShingle Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
CHIOMA OGBUKAGU
Jon Tyrrell
title_short Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
title_full Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
title_fullStr Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
title_full_unstemmed Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
title_sort Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: a UK‐based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents
author_id_str_mv 26ea6ee43ef19b9b473c4e82552a2873
ad510c73555adf718387af219e235a6e
author_id_fullname_str_mv 26ea6ee43ef19b9b473c4e82552a2873_***_CHIOMA OGBUKAGU
ad510c73555adf718387af219e235a6e_***_Jon Tyrrell
author CHIOMA OGBUKAGU
Jon Tyrrell
author2 CHIOMA OGBUKAGU
Matthias Eberl
Natalie Joseph‐Williams
Sarah Hatch
Jon Tyrrell
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institution Swansea University
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1440-1711
doi_str_mv 10.1111/imcb.70079
publisher Wiley
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Swansea University Medical School - Biomedical Science
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description Public engagement is increasingly central to research, especially in biomedical fields, fostering dialogue between scientists and society, building trust and ensuring real‐world relevance. However, as scientific and clinical progress accelerates, the gap between researchers and the public continues to widen, underscoring the need for deeper, more meaningful engagement. Despite the acknowledged value of public engagement for both researchers and the public, we know relatively little about academics' views on opportunities and potential barriers to participation. Using questionnaires and interviews, this study captured insights from 99 researchers and professionals across academic disciplines, career stages and geographical and cultural contexts. Respondents consistently regarded public engagement as an important and rewarding aspect of research, teaching and institutional responsibilities, with the potential to enhance public understanding, acceptance and societal impact. However, enthusiasm was tempered by persistent barriers, including academic workloads, inadequate resources and support, and a lack of formal recognition within career progression. Respondents emphasized the need for systemic reforms to enable greater participation, including tailored training, sustained funding and institutional frameworks that acknowledge and reward engagement. Overall, the findings demonstrate that while motivation for public engagement is widespread, structural and systemic challenges limit its full potential. Addressing these barriers requires coordinated action from universities, funders and policymakers to establish and embed public engagement more consistently as an integral component of academic research and higher education.
published_date 2026-01-09T05:33:38Z
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