A Practical Framework for Academics to Implement Public Engagement Interventions and Measure Their Impact

Area of Science:

• Higher Education
• Science Communication
• Societal Impact

Background:

• Academic institutions increasingly focus on the 'third mission,' aiming for societal contributions beyond research and teaching.
• Public engagement programs are crucial for knowledge transfer and fostering informed public discourse.
• Existing frameworks for public engagement interventions lack comprehensive guidance and impact assessment tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a comprehensive framework for academic institutions implementing public engagement interventions.
• To suggest measurable indicators for assessing the impact of these interventions.
• To enhance the reciprocal understanding between academia and the public.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on public engagement, the third mission, and design theory.
• Collaboration with a communication agency for non-academic insights.
• Development of a four-phase framework: planning/design, implementation, immediate impact assessment, and long-term assessment.
• Design of a specific intervention to boost scientific literacy in Italian youth.

Main Results:

• A structured four-phase framework for planning, implementing, and assessing public engagement interventions.
• Categorization of impact indicators into immediately observable outcomes (e.g., awareness) and long-term measures (e.g., adoption by other institutions).
• A pilot intervention designed to foster scientific literacy among Italian youth, involving them in its development.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a systematic approach to maximize the societal impact of academic public engagement.
• Effective impact measurement is essential for refining interventions and demonstrating value.
• This framework can improve the mutual understanding and dialogue between academic institutions and the public.