Public Voice Scholars to increase engagement and impact

The University of Essex is unveiling 15 new Public Voice Scholars to champion research that improves people’s lives.

This is the first such scheme in the country and the Public Voice Scholars will provide thought and practice leadership on public and policy engagement and research that makes a positive difference. The scheme will elevate the value of public engagement within the University, with the Public Voice Scholars expected to become national and international leaders in public and policy engagement.

Essex’s Public Voice Scholars have expertise in a whole range of subjects from local human rights and public history through to data analytics, health inequality and improving the marine environment.

Led by the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement, the new scheme will bring the public into the centre of the work of the University. The Public Voice Scholars cover a huge range of subjects and disciplines and will be a route for communities to shape university research and set the agenda.

Director of the Centre, Professor Jules Pretty, has led on many high-profile public and policy engagement projects including chairing the Essex Climate Action Committee and the Independent Commission supporting the Essex Renewal Project after COVID-19.

He said: “We are so excited to be launching the Public Voice Scholars scheme. The University of Essex is committed to social action and taking on the issues that matter to people and our communities.

“Communities want a chance to shape priorities and develop solutions together with us, and policy makers are looking for evidence and insights which will help them tackle long-term challenges.

“Our Public Voice Scholars will be inspirational leaders who will show how to put ideas into action to improve people’s lives.”

The University of Essex Public Voice Scholars

• Dr Joe Bailey, Department of Mathematics
• Dr Koldo Casla, School of Law
• Dr David Clark, Institute of Analytics and Data Science and School of Life Sciences
• Dr Amanda Cole, Department of Language and Linguistics
• Dr Alix Green, Department of History
• Dr Kat Hadjimatheou, Department of Sociology
• Dr Erik Jacobi, Essex Business School
• Dr Liam Jarvis, Department of Literature, Film & Theatre Studies
• Professor Anuj Kapilashrami, School of Health and Social Care
• Dr Matt Lodder, School of Philosophy and Art History
• Dr Ruth Lowry, School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences
• Dr Holly Maples, East 15 Acting School
• Dr Jordan Osserman, School of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies
• Professor Gina Reinhardt, Department of Government
• Dr Anna Sturrock, School of Life Sciences

The Public Voice Scholars will be supporting the Centre for Public and Policy Engagement’s ambitious agenda to engage with new audiences, improve policy making and develop research which responds to and listens to the interests of communities.

The Centre for Public and Policy Engagement was established to ensure that research and education at the University of Essex focuses on improving people’s lives. The Centre brings together and promotes diverse public and policy engagement activities across the University of Essex to raise its local, national and global reputation for using research and scholarship to create public and societal benefit.