Public Engagement at CeMi

, by CeMi Team

Public engagement, sometimes called outreach, is how researchers share science beyond the lab. At CeMi, that means heading out to schools, community spaces, festivals, and even prisons to bring science to life. For us, science isn’t just something we do, it’s something we share.

Glasgow Science Festival (GSF)

Training: Each year, a handful of our PhD students participate in the GSF in Action internship programme, learning how to design, fund and deliver public engagement activities. In 2024, four of our students completed the training programme, delivering two activities at the festival!

Activities: We’ve been supporters of the GSF for many years, delivering activities at the festival at both the Riverside transport museum and Glasgow Botanic Gardens. In 2025, we delivered a cell creation activity over the course of 2 days that involved 17 volunteers including MSc and PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, technicians and administrative staff!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advanced Research Centre (ARC) Events

CeMi is based at the University of Glasgow’s Advanced Research Centre, which runs regular public festivals throughout the year. Our team has contributed to many events, including:

  • MusARC at the Spring Fling, to explore the creative and holistic sides of science and medicine;
  • Explorathon, with a craft “cell engineering for a day” activity;
  • Winter Warmer, where we turned liquid nitrogen into frosty fun

School Activities

We love inspiring the next generation, and we regularly take some fun activities along to local primary and secondary schools. In 2025, we took part in STEM Days at Morrisons Academy, showcasing how engineering research supports limb rehabilitation. We also ran hands-on science sessions for British Science Week at Battlefield Primary and Oakgrove Primary schools, showing pupils how to make hydrogels and explore diversity of cells through crafts. Additionally, we worked with Rainbows girlguiding group to help young girls earn their Exciting Experiment badge by engaging in craft and microscopy activities and storytelling.

 

Adults-Only Events

Our engagement doesn’t stop at the school gate. In 2023 and

2025, CeMi researchers took part in late night, adults only events at the Glasgow Science Centre, themed around The Body and Forces. We’re also proud to contribute to “Cell to Cell”, a widening participation programme that brings informal science lectures and workshops into local prisons.

 

What’s next?

We’re always looking for new ways to connect. Whether it’s a classroom, a festival tent, or somewhere unexpected, we believe science should be for everyone. Get in touch if you’d like to collaborate or organise an event together!