Benefits and challenges of public engagement: how can systemic changes enhance researcher well-being and sustained participation?
Abstract
Discussions of public engagement typically emphasize its benefits for society and research outcomes, but far less attention has been given to its effects on researchers' well-being. In this viewpoint, we explore how public engagement can contribute to positive work experiences. Drawing on examples from our own projects, we illustrate how engagement activities can foster meaning, connection, motivation, and professional fulfillment. At the same time, we highlight tensions that arise when engagement is insufficiently valued, resourced, or integrated into academic workloads. We argue that the well-being benefits of public engagement are not automatic but depend on support from the institutional environments. Recognizing and rewarding engagement activities may therefore benefit not only research and society but also the researchers undertaking them.
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BibTeX
@misc{busana2026benefits,
title = {{Benefits and challenges of public engagement: how can systemic changes enhance researcher well-being and sustained participation?}},
author = {Michela Busana and Leonie Schulz and David Schoo and Korinna Kappler and Theresia Endriss and Pia Wehrmaker and Julian Maindok and Alexandra Zink and Joan Casanelles-Abella and Monika Egerer},
howpublished = {EcoEvoRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.32942/x2g41q},
url = {https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/15644/},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Benefits and challenges of public engagement: how can systemic changes enhance researcher well-being and sustained participation?
AU - Michela Busana
AU - Leonie Schulz
AU - David Schoo
AU - Korinna Kappler
AU - Theresia Endriss
AU - Pia Wehrmaker
AU - Julian Maindok
AU - Alexandra Zink
AU - Joan Casanelles-Abella
AU - Monika Egerer
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
PB - EcoEvoRxiv
DO - 10.32942/x2g41q
UR - https://ecoevorxiv.org/repository/view/15644/
AB - Discussions of public engagement typically emphasize its benefits for society and research outcomes, but far less attention has been given to its effects on researchers' well-being. In this viewpoint, we explore how public engagement can contribute to positive work experiences. Drawing on examples from our own projects, we illustrate how engagement activities can foster meaning, connection, motivation, and professional fulfillment. At the same time, we highlight tensions that arise when engagement is insufficiently valued, resourced, or integrated into academic workloads. We argue that the well-being benefits of public engagement are not automatic but depend on support from the institutional environments. Recognizing and rewarding engagement activities may therefore benefit not only research and society but also the researchers undertaking them.
ER -