Beyond the overarching concept of ‘live research’ at Living Links, we have been sucessful in winning a series of grants for further public engagement activities: 2009 Scottish Government ‘Science Engagement Grant’, 2010 Wellcome Trust VIP Award “Bridging to Wellcome Public Engagement with Science”, 2011 Wellcome Trust Investment in People Award “Living Links to Human Biology and Medicine”, 2012 Wellcome Trust ‘Investment in People’ award “Living Links to Human Biology and Medicine: Extensions and Outreach” all awarded to Professor Andrew Whiten (University of St Andrews), in collaboration with Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith (University of Stirling) and Stephen Woollard (RZSS).
Living Links Public Engagement with Science – PDF
All four grants enabled the employment of full-time Science Communication Officer Dr. Mark Bowler an active primatologist with a background in photography, video and design that has enabled the production of information panels, videos, computer interactive screens and other public engagement material and activities.
Dr Bowler also had the opportunity to assess the science engagement in the centre. See the publication below for his results;
Bowler, M., Buchanan-Smith, H.M., & Whiten, A. (2012). Assessing Public Engagement with Science in a University Primate Research Centre in a National Zoo. PLoS ONE, 7 (4) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034505