Welcome to my website Strength in Community, a website to share info on our Public Engagement, Outreach, and Advocacy activities!
Public engagement is an important part of our academic lives. It has become more emphasized in the last decade or so, for which I am grateful. Thanks to the funding made available for the public engagement and outreach activities by MUNL (Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador), I started my most serious public engagement activities in late 2010’s.
In these activities, we aim to engage and work with the public members and share knowledge, stories, and experiences. It is a meaningful and highly awarding experience!
My first most important public engagement event was the Public Conference on Genetics (held in 2020; right between two snow days and before the COVID-19 pandemic hit!). It was a very successful in person event where we talked about genetics, genetic disorders, genetic testing and privacy/ethics, and heard patient stories. You can find further info here. I plan to organize similar events on genetics in the future.
My second most important public engagement undertaking – which has started in 2021 and is still continuing successfully – is the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research! This is a very efficient and meaningful cancer patient/family member-researcher partnership. I am very excited and proud of each and every member of this group – both previous and current – who has contributed to its creation and successful activities! This group’s primary interest is to improve the conditions of the cancer patients and families in the province through designing, conducting, and disseminating research studies and public engagement activities on cancer. I encourage you to have a look at its page here and contact me if you have any questions or would like to join the group.
Of note, we are looking for members from Labrador to join the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research – please spread the word! Thank you
Last but not least, this group so far co-developed one research study and one public engagement activity, which brings me to my next most important public engagement activity…
The third most important public engagement activity I lead is the Public Conference on Cancer (to be organized in Fall 2022!!). The topics and speaker choices were recommended by the members of the Public Interest Group on Cancer Research. This event aims to disseminate knowledge on cancer that our population can benefit from, including patient stories, types and benefits of cancer screening programs available, and the support services offered by the Provincial Cancer Care program. We hope that you will join us in Fall 2022!
I gratefully acknowledge the funding by the Office of Public Engagement and support by its wonderful staff at MUNL that have enabled me to enter to the wonderful world of academic public engagement! Seriously! 🙂
I will continue my public engagement, outreach, and advocacy activities as long as I live and am able. If you have any comments, I would love to hear from you (see the contact page, or leave your comments below).
That is all for now. Thanks for this opportunity. I am looking forward to many successful public events together.
Stay safe and well.
Sevtap Savas, May 11, 2022, St. John’s