Breaking bias in science and reflecting on malnutrition with high school students from rural Spain - public engagement workshops

By Dr Sara Estecha Querol

Public engagement activities serve as a way for the researcher to share findings with the public. As part of the dissemination of my PhD thesis findingsLink opens in a new window, I decided to run two public engagement workshops with high school adolescents. This activity was connected to the aims of my thesis (which was to raise malnutrition awareness) and it was deemed to be beneficial for both the public and the researcher.

These workshops took place at my old high school (IES Matarraña High School in Valderrobres, Spain) during an English language class, involving 16-year-old adolescents from a rural area in Spain. I chose this high school because I was familiar with the context and predicted an easier access to the senior leadership team and students since some of my old teachers still work there. As expected, the high school welcomed my idea, especially because I was once a student there and so the current students could relate to me.

Purpose, process and evaluation of the workshops

"I am a scientist and I am from your village"

The first workshop was entitled “I am a scientist and I am from your village” and was run to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on the 11^th of February 2022. The aims of this workshop were: to inspire adolescents to become the researchers of the future and to improve my skills (professional development). Science and especially technology, engineering, and maths careers are predominantly populated by men. By giving current and down-to-earth examples of women from different backgrounds working in all areas of research, I wanted to inspire students to be the researchers of tomorrow and ultimately, break the bias.

"What does malnutrition mean for you?"

The second workshop was entitled “What does malnutrition mean for you?” and took place on the 6^th of May 2022. The aims were: to raise awareness of adolescent malnutrition (social impact) and to share what I do. In this workshop, the students were encouraged to reflect on the pressing health issue of malnutrition in their context and around the world.

 

The workshops were very interactive and dynamic. I asked the students to reflect on several issues while using different resources such as handouts, pictures in a PowerPoint, post-its and class debates to engage the students.

I evaluated the workshops’ aims, the target population, and the process as recommended by the National Co-ordinating Centre of Public EngagementLink opens in a new window (NCCPE). To evaluate the purpose of this activity, I asked for feedback from my supervisors and the Warwick Institute of Engagement. To assess the suitability of my target audience, I had a meeting with the senior leadership team of the IES Matarraña High School and the year 12 English teacher. The process and the content of the session were evaluated with different methods: hands up before and after, handout with workshop’s questions, debate, post-it notes wall and survey.

Outcomes

In the first workshop, students reported that they did not know that research could be carried out in areas such as maths, psychology or medieval literature. By the end of the workshop, students learned what researchers do and managed to break down the usual stereotype of an old white man in a lab coat. In the survey, 40% of the students reported that they could consider research as a career for the future. I was interviewed live by the local radioLink opens in a new window to talk about this workshop and it was also featured in another local newspaper and TVLink opens in a new window.

In the second workshop, students reflected on how malnutrition affects adolescents and its physical and emotional consequences. They recognised that the country context greatly influences adolescent nutritional status. In the survey, all students reported that this workshop made them reflect on malnutrition and they learned more about all different forms of malnutrition, especially about micronutrient deficiencies. All the students appreciated the information given in the workshop. The information that they liked the most was the perspectives of Pakistani adolescents on malnutrition and how the research project was carried out. After this workshop, I crafted a leaflet gathering some of the narratives from the class debate and shared it with the students and the high school team. I was also interviewed live by the local radioLink opens in a new window to talk about this workshop on malnutrition and it was also featured in another local newspaper and TVLink opens in a new window.

Click here for the pdf version of this leaflet.

Personal reflections on the experience

These public engagement workshops gave me a boost of energy and motivation during the final months of writing up my thesis. Going back to my old high school as a speaker was incredibly gratifying and enjoyable. I felt relaxed and confident because I was familiar with the context, and I had full support and cooperation from the English teacher during the sessions. The high school staff were excited to have an alumnus running workshops that could potentially motivate their current students. The audience was particularly interested in what I had to say as they could relate to me since I had studied in the same high school.

If you are a PhD student thinking of doing something similar, get ready and do it! It is such a rewarding experience. Think not only about how this activity benefits you, but also, and most importantly, how this activity could benefit your public. When possible, try to find an audience that you can connect to, it will make things very smooth and more meaningful. Talk with passion and don’t merely present data. Tailor your methods and information. And finally, make it engaging and interesting for your audience.