Public engagement

Reports on literature reviews, research and conferences conducted or commissioned by the Trust to explore different groups' attitudes to a variety of issues related to biomedical science. Books detailing Trust-funded projects between artists and scientists as well as exhibition catalogues.

Qualitative Research into Public Attitudes to Personal Data and Linking Personal Data Studies have shown that the public is generally supportive of their anonymised health information being used for research purposes. But do they feel differently about their health data than they do about other personal data?

The Wellcome Trust commissioned CM Insight to conduct some focus groups to help give us a better understanding of people's attitudes towards their data in order to inform future public engagement activities. Download report [PDF 400KB]

Engaging with Impact: How do we know if we have made a difference? Public and community engagement is an integral part of health research, and many of the people who fund and conduct such research are increasingly promoting engagement. How do we know whether engagement is achieving its aims?

This report is based on conversations that took place our fourth international engagement workshop that took place in South Africa in October 2012. Download report [PDF 260KB]

Assessing Public Attitudes to Health Related Findings in Research During research involving human participants, researchers may discover something with significance for a participant's health; for example, an undiagnosed disease or risk of illness. This report explores public attitudes to this issue, based on research conducted across the UK in 2011/12. Download report [PDF 3.31MB]

Community Engagement - Under the Microscope In June 2011, 'Community Engagement - Under the Microscope' was the third in a series of workshops organised by the Wellcome Trust to examine public engagement with health research. This report is based on conversations that took place there. Download report [PDF 887KB]

Telling Stories: How the public can engage with science In December 2009, 84 delegates from 22 countries met in Bangalore, India to participate in the second Wellcome Trust International Engagement Workshop: 'Telling Stories'. This report is a synthesis of the discussions, key points and key questions raised at that workshop.

Wellcome Trust Monitor The Wellcome Trust Monitor is a unique survey of UK adults' and young people's views of medical research and seeks to develop a more systematic approach to describing and understanding trends in public interest in, knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research and its associated advances and applications.

Insight and Exchange: An evaluation of the Wellcome Trust's Sciart programme Over ten years, Sciart supported 124 projects funding £3 million worth of awards. Following the closure of the scheme in 2006 the Trust commissioned an independent evaluation to document the legacy of the programme and consider the long-term impact of the scheme and its funded projects. 29/10/09

Reviews of international research: science education and biomedical science Two literature reviews, one concerning research conducted on young people's attitudes to science education and biomedical science, and the other concerning research conducted on adults' interest, knowledge and attitudes regarding biomedical science. 09/01/08

Public Attitudes to Research Governance: A qualitative study in a deliberative context This Trust-funded research shows that people are positive about participating in research and sharing personal data if effective systems are in place to ensure informed consent and anonymity. 26/06/07 Download report [PDF 2.8MB]

Engaging Science Conference Report This is the report of the Wellcome Trust's Engaging Science Conference, which brought together a stimulating mix of people interested in the interactions between science and the rest of society. 04/07/06 Download report [PDF 192KB]

Information and Attitudes: Consulting the public about biomedical science A report discussing methods of deliberation, consultation and public engagement about biomedical science, based on a survey of attitudes to gene therapy. 17/09/05 Download report [PDF 428KB]

What do People Think about Gene Therapy? A survey of public knowledge of, and attitudes to, gene therapy and its social and ethical implications, including findings on how various methods of communication can affect these beliefs. 17/09/05 Download report [PDF 688KB]

Science and the Public: A review of science communication and public attitudes to science in britain This report brings together research that maps the provision of science communication with research exploring public attitudes to science, engineering and technology. 01/10/00 Download report [PDF 536KB]

The Role of Scientists in Public Debate The Wellcome Trust commissioned MORI to undertake a large-scale survey of scientists to investigate whether scientists consider themselves to be the people most responsible for, and best equipped to, communicate their scientific research and its implications to the public. 01/03/00 Download report [PDF 171KB]

Public Perspectives on Human Cloning A report from the Wellcome Trust presenting findings from an innovative research study looking at public views on human cloning and its uses. 01/01/98 Download report [PDF 924KB]