Booking now open for capability building programme on public engagement in behavioural research

Booking now open for BR-UK's free, interactive online courses to equip behavioural researchers with practical skills in public engagement, EDII, knowledge mobilisation, and policy communication.

As behavioural research continues to shape responses to complex societal challenges, BR-UK’s 2026 training programme offers a timely opportunity for researchers to strengthen their engagement, impact, and influence.

We are pleased to announce an exciting new round of free training opportunities for 2026, designed to strengthen how behavioural researchers engage with publics, policymakers, and communities.

As part of our mission to build national capability for behavioural research that is more responsive to societal challenges, we are placing Public Engagement at the heart of research practice. Our Capability Building Programme on Public Engagement in Behavioural Research offers practical, interactive training to help researchers plan, design, and evaluate meaningful engagement activities.

All courses will be delivered live online via Zoom, combining short expert presentations with hands-on activities and collaborative group work.

 Applications are now open and will close on 20 March 2026. Each course is limited to 40 participants.

With places capped at 40 participants per course, early application is encouraged. The programme reflects BR-UK’s commitment to embedding public engagement, ethical responsibility, and inclusive practice across behavioural research practices in the UK.

For further information, contact Julze Alejandre, Research Fellow in Public Engagement, at julze.alejandre@ed.ac.uk.

Public Engagement in Research and Policy Training

15 & 29 April 2026 | 1:00–3:00pm

This two-part course supports behavioural researchers at all career stages to design and deliver meaningful public engagement within research and policy contexts.

Participants will explore key public engagement agendas and approaches, reflect on ethical and inclusive practice, and develop a tailored public engagement plan grounded in their own research projects.

By the end of the course, attendees will be able to:

  • Identify the publics relevant to their research
  • Apply different engagement approaches across research and policy cycles
  • Integrate ethical and inclusive public engagement into their work

Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Intersectionality in Public Engagement

13 & 27 May 2026 | 1:00–2:30pm

Recognising that high-quality behavioural research must address structural inequalities and power dynamics, this two-part course focuses on embedding EDII meaningfully within public engagement practice.

Through applied activities and reflective discussion, participants will examine barriers to participation, challenge biases in research design, and develop a practical EDII strategy tailored to their own projects.

By the end of the course, researchers will:

  • Understand why EDII is integral to behavioural research
  • Critically assess tools for embedding EDII across the research lifecycle
  • Apply inclusive methods from research design to dissemination

Mobilising Knowledge for Societal Impact

10 & 24 June 2026 | 1:00–3:00pm

Moving beyond traditional academic reporting, this interactive course explores how research knowledge can be shared, interpreted, and used across policy, practice, community, and academic settings.

Participants will identify opportunities for knowledge mobilisation within their own projects, analyse contextual barriers and enablers, and develop strategies to ensure research findings travel further and create impact.

By the end of the course, attendees will:

  • Apply diverse knowledge mobilisation strategies
  • Plan and deliver mobilisation activities
  • Analyse leverage points for change across sectors

Writing Policy Briefs for Real-World Influence

7 & 21 October 2026 | 1:00–3:00pm

Policy briefs are powerful tools for translating behavioural research into action. This course equips researchers with the skills to communicate evidence clearly, concisely, and persuasively to policy audiences.

Through structured exercises and peer learning, participants will develop an outline policy brief based on their own research interests, learning how to frame policy problems, synthesise evidence, and propose practical recommendations.

By the end of the course, participants will:

  • Master the structure and style of effective policy briefs
  • Translate research findings into policy-relevant language
  • Develop a clear, actionable policy brief outline

Publication date