Immersed in public engagement
Effective outreach means going to where the people are
All too often, outreach involves inviting the public into our domain: the lecture halls and labs inhabited by scientists. But as well as just reaching out, we should try to meet audiences on their own terms and in places where they feel most comfortable, even if it means pushing out of our own comfort zones.
On a balmy Saturday evening in September I found myself in a subterranean speakeasy a few blocks from the Williamsburg Bridge in New York. Caveat is a bar and performance space dedicated to ‘making entertainment smarter’. The venue brings together diverse performers with various experts – including scientists – to create entertaining live events for punters to enjoy along with their craft beer or soda.