Science for society

Public engagement is an essential part of the research lifecycle and researchers should be supported, protected, and rewarded for doing it well.

The UK public view science positively and want scientists and government to engage with them. However, opportunities for them to engage, such as science centres, museum programmes, and university-based engagement projects, are under threat. At the same time, online scientific news and media is increasingly crowded out by misinformation. 

The UK research community express a strong desire to engage with the public more, but are not given the stability, time, skills, confidence, protections,  or money to do it well. It shouldn’t be seen as an “extra” on top of research and teaching commitments, it should be recognised as a vital part of research and pedagogical culture. 

In 2026, the Royal Society will launch the Science for society report exploring the multiple interconnections between science and the public, and proposing recommendations for how these connections might be strengthened. The report is co-chaired by the Society’s Vice President Professor Sheila Rowan FRS and chair of the Public Engagement Committee Professor Carlos Frenk CBE FRS, in collaboration with the Fellowship and other experts from education, informal learning, media, industry, policy and the university sector.