Engage, Educate and Enhance
Discover our public engagement work
Our 3Es public engagement initiative is to Engage, Educate and Enhance our local communities. We utilise the research expertise of our academics and the knowledge and enthusiasm of our students to run projects that have a positive impact on our communities.
About our work
From working one to one with scientists to using forensics to solve murder mysteries, our activities for young people are always interesting, cutting-edge and cover a range of scientific subjects for audiences of various ages and backgrounds.
Alongside our work with schools and young people, our researchers offer their expertise to help develop innovative solutions with public health and industry partners. We also offer training to non-medical prescribers and other healthcare professionals. Our research is also influencing EU legislation on toxic chemicals. Find out more about our research within the School.
Want to get involved with us?
We have several ways you can become engaged with the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences. Whether your school or college can benefit from a STEM careers talk or a visit to our modern labs to take part in fun, hands-on learning experiences, or your organisation could benefit from our expertise, we offer a huge range of services including:
- Subject-specific insight days with lectures, workshops and tours of our facilities to students considering studying subjects such as biochemistry, forensic science and biomedical science
- Exciting and interactive science workshops delivered to large groups of young people, including GirlGuides and Scouts
- Developing innovative solutions and initiatives alongside public health and industry partners
- Careers talks, science events and workshops delivered by our experts in your school or college
- Training to non-medical prescribers, nurses and other health professionals
- Training to peer educators so they can deliver their own hands-on science workshops
- Providing expertise in our subject areas – staff currently sit on external advisory panels and editorial boards, act as external examiners at other universities
Staff within the School also deliver guest lectures at a wide range of events and provide expert opinion through TV and newspaper interviews.
Find out more about the work we do in the community from the projects below.
Our projects
Chemistry for All
Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), we work with local schools to widen participation in chemistry and raise awareness of the range of careers in the subject. Chemistry for All enables children to take part in exciting and informative activities, which will give them an understanding of chemistry in the wider world and help them develop skills such as analytical thinking and problem solving.
Mast - Knowledge Transfer Partnership
Mast Diagnostics, LJMU and Public Health England (TSB funded collaborative grant – Fighting Infection Through Detection), have been developing a rapid point of care diagnostic assay for STIs that will benefit NHS patients by providing a rapid diagnosis allowing antibiotics to be prescribed immediately. The development of a point of care device for a panel of sexually transmitted disease is at an advanced stage. A prototype will be available in the coming months that will be used to conduct a series of clinical trials. The impact of the device is likely to be very significant allowing rapid diagnosis of disease and immediate prescription of antibiotics to treat patients. A recent publication from the group has attracted attention from resource poor settings and a clear need has been established for this technology to be translated to these environments where incidence of STI can be as high as 14%.
Salters' Festival of Chemistry
Pupils across the North West take part in competitive, hands-on practical activities using their chemistry skills to solve a murder mystery. In LJMU’s state-of-the-art labs, students examine forensic evidence from an imaginary crime scene to help identify the murderer.
SKCIN/Sun Safe Schools
We work with Skcin on the Sun Safe Schools programme whose objective is to prevent skin cancer through education. Sun Safe Schools is a free online tool available to all primary schools giving them access to a comprehensive range of engaging, curriculum-linked teaching resources for key stage 1 and 2 pupils. The hope is that the initiative will be rolled out to community pharmacies to get the message out to an even wider audience.
Liverpool CCG
The School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences has recently developed and delivered training to nursing staff from Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust to help them gain confidence using the online versions of the British National Formulary as well as understand key sections more thoroughly to help healthcare team effectiveness.
Big Bang North West
We support Big Bang North West which enables young people to discover the exciting and rewarding STEM-based careers available through fun and interactive activities.
STEM Ambassadors
The School has a number of registered STEM Ambassadors who work with young people to pique their interest in STEM subjects and encourage them to consider possible future career pathways in STEM.
Centre for Pharmacy Innovation
The Centre is the first research collaboration in the UK between a hospital, university and community pharmacist. LJMU, the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust and LloydsPharmacy are working together towards the goal of improving the way patients use their medicines outside hospital.
Pharmacy practice
LJMU and the Medway School of Pharmacy have produced the first baseline map of local authorities commissioned public health services from community pharmacies so data can be gathered to work out where key services are required.
Contact us
If you’re interested in finding out more about our public engagement work, please get in touch and follow us on Twitter.