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Naomi Gibson

Contact information


naomi.gibson@medsci.ox.ac.uk

Location

Medical Sciences Divisional Office
University of Oxford
Level 3, John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford OX3 9DU

Naomi Gibson

Public and Policy Engagement Facilitator

I lead a number of Divisional activities that support and enable academics across Medical Sciences’ to engage a range of public and policy stakeholders with their research to increase the relevance and impact of their work. This includes:

Policy Engagement

I work with the Division’s Academic Lead for Policy Engagement, Professor Deirdre Hollingsworth and colleagues in the Oxford Policy Engagement Network (OPEN) to develop and deliver a number of programmes which connect researchers and policy professionals with the ultimate aim of developing public policy informed by the world’s best available research evidence and expertise. This includes a programme of Visiting Fellowships, a Peer Mentoring scheme and a number of funding opportunities.

Patient Involvement and Public and Community Engagement

I work with the Division’s Academic Lead for Patient Involvement and Public Engagement, Professor Mel Fleming and the network of staff leading patient involvement work across the University and in our partner organisations, to ensure that patients, their carers, and others affected by our research have the opportunity to have a voice within the research process.

I also work with colleagues in the central Public and Community Engagement team, other academic divisions, and the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) to support and deliver a number of University-wide capacity building and public and community engagement activities. This includes the University’s Public and Community Engagement Strategy, Science Together, Participatory Research Oxford and the Responsible Knowledge Exchange, Engagement and Impact framework, and Enriching Engagement.

I provide Divisional input to the development of relevant University strategies, for example the Innovation, Engagement and Impact Strategy and briefings to the Associate Head of Division, Research and Innovation, Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg on matters relating to engagement. I also support the development of the public / patient / policy engagement sections within major funding proposals. For individuals looking for advice and support, please see our engagement pages.

Since joining the Division in December 2015 I have also been on an 18-month secondment as Senior Research Impact Facilitator in the Social Sciences Division, where I oversaw the Division’s submission of 76 impact case studies to REF 2021 and management of the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account. I also spent six months on secondment to Research Services as the Interim Head of Public Engagement. 

Prior to joining the University I was Head of Public Events at the British Academy, the UK’s National Academy for Humanities and Social Sciences where I also worked on several national public engagement projects, including the 2015 survey of Factors Affecting Researchers Engagement with the Public. I started my career working at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, planning and delivering events to engage children and adults with science.