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Building a shared conversation on the future of public engagement in Ireland: Public Engagement Consensus Conference 2026

Image shows people sitting at round tables at Consensus Conference
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In May this year, almost 200 people interested in Public Engagement met for a one-day Consensus Conference hosted by Research Ireland at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. This was the first time a large group of people committed to Public Engagement in Ireland came together to explore ideas and look to the future.  

Public Engagement is central to how research connects with society. The conference explored how engagement can be more inclusive, and collaborative, ensuring research remains relevant and responsive to societal needs. 

What we explored 

Participants at the Consensus Conference worked together across three key areas: 

  • A shared vision for Public Engagement
    Exploring what meaningful, inclusive Public Engagement should look like in the years ahead. 
  • A Community of Practice
    Considering how to better connect and support people working in Public Engagement. 
  • Funding and support structures
    Reimagining how Public Engagement could be funded and sustained over time. 

These discussions highlighted the importance of inclusivity, long-term relationships, collaboration, and opening up participation beyond traditional research settings. 

What we heard 

The conference surfaced strong and consistent messages: 

  • Public Engagement should be inclusive, participatory, and community-informed. 
  • There is a clear appetite for more collaboration and knowledge sharing. 
  • Participants called for longer-term, flexible, and more accessible funding. 
  • There is strong support for developing a national Community of Practice. 

Participants also identified the strength, diversity, and collaborative potential of the Public Engagement community as a key takeaway from the day. 

What is happening next 

The following report summarises and contextualises the event, collates the main themes discussed, including both quantitative and qualitative date gathered across the day. The report sets out a series of commitments from Research Ireland for 2026, 2027 and beyond, alongside an invitation for the wider community to continue shaping this work together.  

Download the full reportDownload the full report

Get involved 

This work is ongoing. We welcome continued engagement from researchers, practitioners, community organisations, and the public as we build a more connected and inclusive Public Engagement ecosystem in Ireland.  

For more information, please contact Dr. Rachel Iredale, Head of Public Engagement with Research on rachel.iredale@researchireland.ie 

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