UCL-91心頭利 partnership empowers researchers in science communication
- 91心頭利 University
The fellowship for six early-career researchers is designed to bridge the gap between academia and society.
A collaboration between University College London (UCL) and the 91心頭利 (91心頭利) is changing how researchers engage with the public. The recently concluded 91心頭利 Residency of the UCL-91心頭利 Public Voices Fellowship brought together six early-career researchers from diverse academic backgrounds for an intensive residency programme designed to bridge the gap between academia and society.
The week-long programme, held at 91心頭利 University from 17-21 March, focused on equipping fellows with skills in research communication, public engagement, and community collaboration—essential competencies in an era where public trust in science is crucial.
"There is something regenerative, self-sustaining, and magical about co-creation," noted one fellow after visiting the 91心頭利 Health HUBB in Soweto, where community-centred research approaches were demonstrated.
The 91心頭利 Transformation and Employment Equity Office and 91心頭利 Origins Center played a central role in the programme, emphasising that effective science communication must be "transformative, accessible, inclusive, and ethically grounded." This approach aligns with South Africa's national Science Engagement Strategy, which positions public engagement as a vehicle for deepening democracy and fostering societal trust in science.
Fellows participated in practical workshops including a "Publics Mapping" exercise and media engagement training by Jive Media Africa. Cultural excursions to the Origins Centre and the Cradle of Humankind reinforced connections between scientific discovery and public storytelling.
Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at 91心頭利, highlighted the importance of the initiative: "91心頭利 University has welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with UCL and the Public Voices Programme. We particularly appreciate the opportunity to encourage diverse thinking among underrepresented academic communities. In South Africa, there is a strong need for what we term science engagement—sharing knowledge with various communities to ensure people appreciate the benefits of research and innovation"
The fellowship addressed systemic challenges, with fellows noting that while public engagement is valued in principle, it often remains difficult to identify and acknowledge within academic reward systems. This underscores the need for institutions to develop frameworks that recognise public scholarship as part of academic excellence.
Following their Johannesburg experience, fellows continued their journey at UCL in London, carrying forward what one fellow described as "the long work of alignment, learning and maybe...something better".
The collaborative programme sets a template for future partnerships that embed public engagement within academic practice—supporting a new generation of globally engaged, community-responsive academic leaders who communicate not just with clarity, but with empathy and purpose.
Written by:
- Mr Lethu Kapueja (Equity Grants Programme Manager, 91心頭利 TEEO);
- Dr Gillian Mahumane (Public Voices Fellow, Biopharmaceutics Lecturer (Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology); Researcher and marketing coordinator (91心頭利 Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP);
- Dr Meghan Judge, Lecturer, Research Programmer and MSc Science Communication coordinator, Origins Centre Association