Public engagement brings psychology to life for school students

Parise Carmichael-Murphy, a PhD candidate, was unsure about taking part in public engagement at first:

"I thought I might have been under-qualified as I'm not a practitioner, but I tried to be authentic and just spoke about my interests."

It worked: Parise won the I'm a Scientist Psychology Zone in November 2020, where she engaged school students with her work through online chats.

Parise says, "I'm a Scientist was a different, but welcome, challenge. I know some people think that public engagement isn't for them, but I encourage them to push themselves out of their comfort zone."

While I'm a Scientist is a great public engagement option for psychologists, it can also be hugely beneficial for the school students taking part.

Although psychology teachers in the UK try to provide information on careers in psychology, the discipline is developing all the time.

Through live chats, psychologists can form a personal connection and give school students up-to-date, tailored advice and information.

Keisha Kirby, a Psychology teacher and Head of Psychology in Salisbury, says:

"Psychologists can show students things that I would never know about - they're able to share research that's hot off the press in real-time. It's so much better than reading about it in a textbook 2 years later. I wish I had that opportunity when I was at school."

Online chats make engagement easier and more flexible. Psychologists like Reece Bush-Evans, a postdoctoral researcher and Psychology Zone winner, can engage with students from diverse schools and backgrounds.

Reece says of I'm a Scientist:

"Applying to university can be really stressful, and students might not know what's available to them out there.

If I've helped one young person out of the countless that I've spoken to, I'll be very happy.

I'd definitely recommend psychologists get involved - it's rewarding for everyone."

The I'm a Scientist Psychology Zone runs each March, June and November.

Psychologists and people working in psychology-related roles can register to take part at www.imascientist.org.uk/scientists/bps.