Reuben awards 2023/24 Public Engagement with Research Innovation Fund Grants

Now in its third year, we are pleased to announce the awardees of the 2023/24 Reuben Public Engagement with Research Innovation Fund.

Public Engagement with Research (PER) is one of the values of the College, and many of our Fellows and students are already involved in projects that connect the wider community with our academic research. Public Engagement has mutual benefits for both the public and researchers, and enhances the quality, reach, impact and relevance of research.

The Reuben PER Innovation Fund was launched in 2022 by Reuben Fellows, Cat Vicente and Janet Stott, and allows students the chance to run their own collaborative, public engagement projects. Interdisciplinary dimensions are particularly encouraged, capitalising on the cross-disciplinary community that Reuben College can uniquely foster, with Fellows providing bespoke support to students.

The fund also aims to help the students develop their leadership and project management skills, as well as starting to build a funding track record. You can read more about this year’s projects below and previous projects supported by Reuben’s PER fund here.

Reubocomp: A Summer Camp Bridging Access to Data-Driven Health Research

Nithishwer Mouroug Anand (DPhil in Biochemistry), Aashna Uppal (DPhil in Data Science), Jayroop Ramesh (DPhil in Computer Science), Sakina Amin (St. John’s College)

The aim of this project is to engage with undergraduate students from Irumbulichery - a rural town in Tamil Nadu, India, which prior to attending their respective undergraduate institutions, attended state schools in and around that town. These students are pursuing computational degrees, but their curriculum does not allow for exposure to research at the forefront of data-driven life sciences. This is further exaggerated by their lack of resources and results in students being unaware or disinterested with careers in science research. The team are planning a four-day long summer workshop for these students, that will deliver practical skills related to each of our DPhil studies. By introducing these students to such topics, we hope to empower them to contribute meaningfully to advancements in health research, ultimately kindling their interest in careers in science.

They say: “We are incredibly delighted to receive funding for this project. By holding this workshop, we hope to empower young students to pursue careers in research – a small step in closing the gap in research inequity!”

Buzz when you know the answer!

Jennifer Chennells (DPhil in Biology), and Ellen Baker (Balliol College)

We all rely on pollinators like bees for maintaining biodiversity and pollinating crops. However, while lots of people might be familiar with honeybee and bumblebees, not everyone realises that the UK is home to over 250 wild bee species! Jennifer and Ellen want to help people learn about this diverse range of bees, their habitats and the plants they need. To do this, they have designed a ‘Guess Who’ style game which they will bring to outreach events this year.

They say: “We’re really excited to receive this funding which will allow us to make a version of the game for both adults and children. This is a fantastic opportunity to engage people of all ages and we hope to inspire people to appreciate and support our local wildlife.”

Water for all / Agua para todos

Fernanda Diaz Osorio (MSc in Water Science, Policy and Management)

Fernanda will conduct research in Mexico during the summer. Using community mapping, she will examine the criticality of the water truck distribution network in Oaxaca City. Thanks to the PER fund, she will be able to share her results in Spanish with her research participants. She will do this by gifting stickers with water-inspired art and QR codes. Once the results are ready, the participants will be able to access them by scanning the QR codes.  

Fernanda says: “I am very grateful and excited about receiving the PER funding. I love sharing what I learn, and the funding will allow me to use art and technology to share my research findings in Spanish.“

Uncovering Endometriosis

Katherine Heighes (DPhil in Interdisciplinary Bioscience) and Chloe Harper (Pembroke)

Katherine and Chloe plan to produce a number of materials to raise awareness and encourage conversations about endometriosis at a stall in the Westgate shopping centre. These will include information displays, interactive quizzes and a handmade felt uterus model featuring detachable lesions to illustrate disease pathology. It is hoped that this stall may help to reduce the stigma regarding women’s health conditions and encourage people to recognise and advocate for those experiencing symptoms.

They say: "We are incredibly honoured to receive funding from Reuben college to raise awareness of this important issue, and hope that this project will be able to make a small difference to encourage more awareness and research towards women’s health in the future.”

Interactive Learning through AI: A Gamified Approach to Healthcare Education

Zhiyao Luo (DPhil in Engineering Science), Katarina Vukosavljević (DPhil in Health Data Science), Chenqi Li (Queen’s), Munib Mešinović (Jesus), Moritz Gögl (Keble), and Henrique Aguiar (St John's)

This project aims to develop an interactive game to help students, healthcare professionals, and the general public understand AI's role in healthcare through simulated medical scenarios and AI-assisted decision-making.

Zhiyao and Katarina say:  "We are sincerely thankful for this opportunity to meaningfully contribute towards raising public awareness about the role of AI in healthcare. As Reubenites, we are very happy to be able to work on such an exciting project together with our friends Chenqi, Munib, Moritz, and Henrique. We are looking forward to engaging with the public and learning together about how AI can improve healthcare delivery.”

Other than Oxford

Morgan Mitchell (DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences)

Morgan will share portrait photos and accompanying stories of STEM researchers from underrepresented backgrounds here at Oxford. Having these scientists share about their journey into academic research, why they chose their specific field, the influences that helped them when they were growing up, what they enjoy most about what they do and what they inspire to in the future, Morgan hopes to inspire young people from similar backgrounds to pursue academic research careers. 

Morgan says: "I feel very grateful to have received funding for this project - to be able to shed light on all the incredible scientists at Oxford that aren't normally given the spotlight and to be a small part in giving them a voice and platform to share more of their story with the University community is a great privilege." 

Arthritis Awareness: A Hands-On Experience

Julia Salafranca (DPhil in Molecular and Cellular Medicine)

With limited understanding and funding in arthritis in the UK, Julia’s workshop seeks to inspire young students into careers in research, as well as raising awareness about the daily challenges faced by arthritis patients. Using an "arthritis kit" featuring gloves and everyday tasks, participants will experience the difficulties first-hand. The aim is to make science accessible, foster interest in medical research careers and raise awareness about rheumatic diseases.

Julia says: “I am grateful to Reuben College for continuing to support my development as a science communicator, and my commitment to raising awareness for arthritis and making science accessible to everyone.”

From Seeing to Knowing

Ashley Younger (MSc (Res) in Women’s and Reproductive Health)

AI-enabled ultrasound innovations can equip nurses and midwives without training to utilize this technology to impact clinical care in areas with limited access. Using portable ultrasound and constructed models, Ashley would like to conduct this public engagement activity to expose students within the primary and secondary school setting to the power of medical imaging that can be adopted to low resource settings.

Ashley says: "I want to express my gratitude to the Reuben PER Innovation Fund for giving me the opportunity to engage with young students and discuss medical research. Thank you for this valuable experience!"