The idea is that universities should not just teach students and conduct research, but should endeavour to educate everyone. As the Vice-Provost Michael Worton pointed out, public engagement isn't just writing in the Guardian or even the Telegraph (as he put it), it's enabling all sorts of people being able to benefit from academic expertise.
Public engagement is the new big thing. Mostly probably because grant giving bodies require it (just as assessments motivate medical students, so grant requirements motivate researchers).
It was great to see some of the work people have been doing. The archeologists are training members of the public to survey key sites along the River Thames. The UCL Department of Space and Climate Physics holds all sorts of rocket-building and story-telling events at their posh campus in Guildford, Surrey.
And it's not just the scientists - UCL Scandanavian Studies are involved in Bright Club - a mix of comedy, music, art, new writing, science and performance; and the museums at UCL regularly hold events such as The Big Draw in the holidays for children and photography competitions.
I need to think what I can do to get people involved in my psychological, medical educational research...
I am certainly biassed, but UCL has such a varied mix of disciplines, it really is great. Here's a picture of students preparing to stage Twelfth Night in the quad this evening.
