Practicing engaged research through pandemic times: do not feed the animals?

Area of Science:

• Science Communication
• Participatory Research
• Public Engagement

Background:

• The 'Feed the Birds' to 'Do Not Feed the Animals' project initially relied on in-person interactions.
• The COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns necessitated a rapid adaptation of the project's engagement strategy.
• Existing science communication practices needed to be re-evaluated in light of new public health measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the redesign of a science communication project in response to pandemic-induced restrictions.
• To describe a hybrid model integrating online and in-person engagement methods.
• To develop and share best practices for online participatory science communication.

Main Methods:

• Redesigning project engagement strategies to accommodate remote participation.
• Integrating newly adopted digital technologies and skills with traditional in-person methods.
• Developing a hybrid model for science communication activities.

Main Results:

• A successful hybrid model of online and in-person engagement was implemented.
• The project demonstrated the feasibility of adapting in-person science communication to online platforms.
• New skills and technologies were integrated into the project's workflow.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid model offers a viable approach for engaged research during and after the pandemic.
• The study contributes to the advancement of online participatory science communication.
• Best practices for engaged research were developed and refined through this adaptive process.