A case for outreach during your PhD
- SciEnvy
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
Why you should step out of the lab and into the community
If you're doing a PhD in environmental science, you're probably aware of the importance of your research. The work we do helps us understand the world around us - from predicting earthquakes to ecosystem collapses - all of which has immense value to society. Yet, too often, this work remains tucked away behind paywalls and academic jargon, never to be seen by those outside of academia or special interest groups. That's where scientific outreach comes in.
Scientific outreach involves engaging the public to promote a better understanding of science. It’s about making knowledge accessible, fostering curiosity, and building trust between scientists and society. Outreach not only bolsters public support for research but empowers communities; it allows members of the public to make informed decisions about science-related issues and can inspire individuals to explore careers in science that they may not have considered otherwise.
"Skills like evidence-based reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking are not just for scientists" - member of the ARIES ENclude team
At the beginning of the year, I had the opportunity to join the ARIES ENclude team, a student-led group that organises outreach events across the UK. In this blog post, I wanted to talk about my experience during this event and share some insight from other members of the ARIES ENclude team. I'll also touch on why I think it’s important for more PhD students to get involved in outreach.
ARIES ENclude Plymouth
The outreach event took place over two days at the Marine Station in Plymouth. Eleven PhD researchers lead over 100 year 8 students through a series of interactive events. We aimed to introduce students to the realm of marine biology, a topic that many had yet to encounter in their usual classes.
Students put their detective hats on in our environmental science "whodunnit", investigating whether fish were killed by a nearby plastic factory, fish farmers, or as a result of agricultural runoff. Students also took on the role of decision-makers responding to an oil spill, balancing environmental recovery with budget constraints.
I had the chance to develop and lead the Marine Microscopy session, which aimed to introduce students to different plankton groups. Students inspected water samples collected right outside the Marine Station and identified a range of microorganisms, from micro-algae to crab larvae.
In the months leading up to the event, our team put in a considerable amount of effort developing each workshop, contacting schools, and making logistical arrangements so that everything ran smoothly. The final event was a great success, with many students reporting that they knew far more about marine life than they had going in.
Personal highlights
Before the event, I spent hours staring down a microscope learning about the different microorganisms I would work with in my own project. I was fascinated by this hidden microbial world and, when it came to running the Marine Microscopy session, I found it incredibly gratifying to see students as intrigued as I was. Both the PhD researchers and teachers were truly taken aback by the complexity of questions that students asked.
Initially, I was nervous about presenting to a class of 30 students and worried about whether or not I was explaining the topic at the right level. However, as the day went on, I grew more comfortable with public speaking and adapted my explanations to suit the needs of different students.
Having just moved to Plymouth, this event was also a wonderful opportunity to meet other PhD students and expand both my personal and professional network. It was a great way to make the city feel a little bit more like home!
A call for participation
Doing a PhD is no small undertaking. It requires an incredible amount of commitment, and many feel as if they don't have enough time for things that don't directly contribute to their project. However, I would argue that outreach does have direct impacts.
To highlight some of the benefits of scientific outreach alongside your PhD, I asked a couple of ENclude members about their own experiences:
Q: How did you balance outreach with your PhD research?
A: “Much like a PhD project, where researchers must learn to prioritise and focus on particular tasks with self-imposed deadlines, outreach can be seen as an extension of this training we are already all too familiar with. Fostering good relations between team members was absolutely crucial. If someone was at a pinch point in their studies, our team was ready to support and assist in sharing workloads."
Q: Why do you think science education and public engagement are important right now?
A: “Skills like evidence-based reasoning, problem-solving, and critical thinking are not just for scientists; they’re essential for informed citizens and creative thinkers. Science ought to encourage curiosity, intellectual courage in the face of conformist discourse, and the ability to ask good questions... all of which are increasingly valuable in today’s world.”
Q: What would you say to other PhD students who are hesitant about getting involved in outreach?
A: “Outreach is a great way to be creative outside of your own PhD research; it’s definitely helped me think of new ways to communicate my own research and really helps to develop your public communication skills. I’ve also loved the community I have built from getting involved in science outreach which has also led to other opportunities to take part in sci-comm projects!”
Outreach allows you to develop many of the skills necessary to become a successful researcher: communicating to varied audiences, explaining complex topics, teaching and mentoring others. When organising events, it can also serve as a great opportunity to gain experience in project management. These skills are not only applicable to your PhD but your career as a whole.
I hope this post has shed light on some of the benefits that outreach can offer. By helping others, you can be helping yourself build a successful career in science... and I think that's a pretty incredible thing!
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