Building visibility: Highlights from the PRHS PGR engagement workshop
How can PGRs start engaging with the world beyond academia? This PGR workshop explored media, storytelling, and engagement as pathways to creating lasting visibility and impact.
A PGR workshop on media and public engagement was hosted by the School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science on Wednesday 13 May, 2026. The workshop brought together post-graduate researchers and public engagement expertise from across the University to explore linkages between research and engagement with wider audiences beyond academia.
The session was chaired by Professor Al Wilson (PRHS Director of PGR Studies). Facilitators included Boluwatife Ajibola (PRHS Research and Impact Development Officer), Dr Rob Lawlor (IDEA: The Ethics Centre), Professor Graeme Gooday (PRHS Director of Impact), and Joe Christmas (Faculty of AHC Communications Manager - Research & Partnerships).
The workshop offered both practical guidance and strategic insight on how to navigate engagement, visibility, and research impact more confidently.
What do we mean by engagement and impact?
The session began with Boluwatife Ajibola clarifying two key concepts:
• Engagement was framed as a two-way interaction between researchers and non-academic audiences – involving varied disciplinary practices that may directly or indirectly contribute to wider societal, economic, cultural, or environmental benefits.
• Impact refers to the demonstrable benefits of research beyond academia, including effects on economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life (See REF definition).
A key takeaway was that engagement and impact are closely linked, but are not the same. In Boluwatife’s words, “while engagement is what you do with people, impact is what changes as a result of what you did”.
The process between engagement and impact is not always linear. Engagement can contribute to the direction of research and subsequent impact, and impact can also generate new forms of engagement.
Why engage beyond academia?
All speakers emphasised that public engagement should not be treated as an add on, but can be central to the research process for the following reasons:
• Testing and sharpening ideas through exposure to diverse perspectives
• Building trust and relationships with publics, partners, and collaborators
• Increasing the visibility and accessibility of research
• Developing valuable communication skills
• Creating pathways to real-world impact and funding opportunities
Graeme highlighted the personal and professional value of engagement as providing an opportunity to clarify research arguments, enhance academic and non-academic career prospects, and build confidence in communicating beyond specialist audiences.
Using media to amplify research
The workshop featured dedicated discussions on the role of media as a bridge between research and audiences beyond academia. Rob’s presentation introduced participants to the range of available channels such as television and radio, print journalism, and social media.
Engagement with media is especially important as it can facilitate connections between researchers and policy makers, practitioners, and the wider public. However, these is not devoid of its challenges. Media coverage may not always be positive, and not all publicity may end up as good publicity.
It is therefore important to seek specialist advise and support in navigating the media landscape. A key practical message for PGRs was that they can always draw on institutional support at Leeds. The University of Leeds media relations and research communications team are available to support in crafting press releases, pitching stories to journalists, responding to invites from journalists, etc.
The workshop further explored a wide range of engagement approaches beyond traditional media, such as:
• Public talks: This involves offering research to public events/series. Destinations to target include: Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, Thoresby Society, Yorkshire Archaeological & Historical Society, The Leeds Library, Leeds Central Library, Leeds City Museums, Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds Inspired, among others.
• Blogging: Writing for external blogs such as The Conversation or running own blog.
• Working with organisations - including charities, professional bodies, advocacy groups, museums, local societies.
The role of communications and storytelling
Joe provided an overview of how the Faculty’s communications team supports research visibility and impact. Their work includes:
• Writing press releases and news stories
• Supporting social media promotion
• Producing blogs and comment pieces
• Connecting researchers with media opportunities
• Showcasing impact to funders and wider audiences
A particularly useful framework introduced in the session was the idea of ‘Stories’. Effective research stories tend to be: timely and relevant, connected to current debates or policy issues, grounded in human interest; clear in their message and purpose.
Media Relations at Leeds are particularly interested in stories relating to the university’s areas of research strength: climate and sustainability, health, wellbeing and health tech, and cultural and creative industries.
Key takeaways
A key message that ran through the workshop was that effective engagement does not require large-scale activity from the outset. Early Career Researchers and especially PGRs should consider starting small and with manageable opportunities, take advantage of institutional support and resources, define the audiences they’ll like to engage, and think strategically about how different activities connect.
