Get Involved with Science Together 2025-26!

what is science together?

Launched in 2021, Science Together is an exciting programme connecting Oxfordshire's community groups with researchers from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. Science Together projects are defined by needs of the community groups and have practical outcomes that benefit the work of the community partner or the Oxfordshire people they serve.

Through facilitated workshops, researchers connect with local community partners to identify and develop collaborative projects that help to overcome a challenge or seize an opportunity. Projects can take any form, provided they are led by the needs of the community partner, are proportionate for the time-frame and funding available and enable mutually beneficial experiences to take place for all project team members. Each Science Together project team includes at least two community partner representatives, at least two university researchers and at least one university staff member with an interest in public engagement to foster dialogue and assist with project management processes.

 We're looking for researchers of any discipline to partner with the community groups, and and for University staff with an interest in public engagement to act as facilitators for the collaborations that emerge.

Researchers

We are seeking researchers from the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. Researchers can be from any discipline and at any career stage from postgraduate study onwards. You do not need to have previous experience in public or community engagement with research in order to participate, but do need to be open to working in different ways with a community group in an equitable manner, valuing all forms of expertise as part of an exploratory programme where the outcomes are not pre-defined.

Facilitators

We are looking for public engagement support staff from across the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes University. The facilitator's role is to support the developing community/researcher partnerships and act as ‘creative agents’ spotting areas of common interest and asking the right questions at the right time to help projects progress. We are keen to hear from anyone with experience or interest in public and community engagement with research, who is keen to develop their skills to foster partnerships and ensure the collaborations are grounded in community needs whilst providing opportunities for all team members to make a positive contribution.

Community Partners

Science Together links community organisations in Oxfordshire with researchers from Oxford’s universities to address local issues collaboratively. Projects are defined by needs identified by the community partner and aim to deliver practical responses to challenges or opportunities.

Participation is free, with financial compensation for community partner staff time and funding for direct project costs. Support is provided  throughout the process, from developing the project idea to connection with researchers and providing access to resources and facilities to help with the implementation of the project.

Funding

Each Science Together team is given a budget to develop and deliver their collaborative project, and funding is included to cover community partner staff time. All programme costs are covered, so participation in the programme is free for researchers and facilitators, who volunteer their time to support the project they are part of. Regular training, networking, social events and communications are provided for everyone.

2024.25 Community Partners

The programme requires an ongoing commitment from all participants of around 10 months. The amount of time offered by university researchers and facilitators can be agreed with the relevant community project group, but as a guide we anticipate approximately one or two days per month.

COntact information

For further information please complete this short form: Science Together EOI 2025.26

For any queries please contact sciencetogether@mpls.ox.ac.uk