Embedded Files
enriching research
enriching research
We embed young people as paid co-researchers in our youth mental health research, from conception through to dissemination. This ensures their needs and priorities shape the research itself, not just how it's communicated afterwards.
Over time we've developed a range of methods to make this involvement meaningful:
Online training in research skills, so young people build real capability.
Co-writing outputs across different audiences, including articles for youth charities, policy-facing work and academic journal articles, so findings reach the people who can act on them.
Qualitative analysis workshops, giving young people a direct role in shaping how findings are interpreted.
For us, doing this properly means paying young people for their time and treating their contribution as genuine co-ownership of the research.
the science or fiction model
the science or fiction model
I started this podcast in 2021 as a way to make science communication something young people could help build. Since then it has grown into a structured training for youth producers.
Young people join first as lived experience consultants, usually on a specific episode or topic close to their own experience. From there, those who want to go further are trained in the skills behind the podcast: reviewing evidence, writing scripts, interviewing guests, creating social media content for episodes. All of this is paid work.
Eight youth producers have been trained this way so far. Several have gone on to co-author articles, co-host live events, or pursue research and clinical psychology careers themselves.
We've funded this work through a series of public engagement grants, including awards from Wellcome, the ESRC and the British Academy, which has let us keep paying young people properly and to ensure they have ownership over the content.
If you'd like to get involved, we'd love to hear from you at info@scienceorfiction.co.uk or you can complete this form.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse