Promoting your Research
Learn how to increase the impact of your research and improve your engagement as a researcher.

What is public engagement?
Work your way through these short training videos to explore key concepts in Public Engagement with Research. Suitable for researchers at any career stage.
Bristol University Press
Learn more about academic publishing, BUP's publishing processes, and how to submit a proposal via their online author hub.
Presentation Skills
Conference papers, lectures, and posters are an important way to disseminate research findings to both academic and public audiences. Bristol Doctoral College provides a variety of personal professional development activities to help improve your presentation skills.
Presenting your Research (face-2-face workshop)
This live, face-to-face workshop, facilitated by Piero Vitelli teaches researchers to deliver impactful presentations. By reviewing the myths surrounding public speaking, and exploring effective methods of communication, it offers practical guidance to help participants improve their presentation skills, and to share their research with confidence.
Find out more and book your place via our events calendar.
Perfect Posters (hybrid workshop)
Posters are a creative representation of you and your research. They are an important way to showcase your findings to both the research community, and the wider public.
This interactive, live workshop helps researchers clarify the purpose of conference posters, and offers guidance for creating a memorable, creative poster to communicate research.
Sign up for our Perfect Posters workshop using the PGR event calendar.
Perfect Posters (self-directed e-learning)
Can't make it to our Perfect Posters workshop? Face-2-face learning not your thing?
No problem. Work your way through out interactive, self-directed e-learning resource to explore what makes a good academic poster, and consider how to make your own!
Access Perfect Posters on LinkedIn Learning
Make sure you log in to LinkedIn Learning using your UoB email address to get access.
Academic Publishing
Publishing helps to advance knowledge by disseminating research, and also preserves a record of research for future use. It can also help to advance your career, and ensure that you are recognised for your contributions to your field.
Navigating publishing can be challenging for PGRs. Bristol Doctoral College and other University of Bristol services can help you understand the intricacies of the publishing world.
Introduction to Academic Publishing (hyrbid workshop)
This live, hybrid workshop demystifies the publishing process, offering PGRs essential context to increase their changes of getting published. It explores why academics publish, helps participants understand how to choose a target journal (or publisher), and explains the peer review process.
This session also features a Q&A with an expert from Bristol University Press.
Academic Publishing Essentials (self directed e-learning)
This online training module will introduce you to the basic concepts of publishing and promoting academic research, including: open access; choosing a journal; monitoring the impact of your research and more!
Choosing a target journal (online resources)
How to choose a journal
Choosing where to submit your work can be challenging. The resources below outline key factors to consider when choosing a target journal.
Listen to a BDC podcast about how to select an academic journal for your work
Find guidance about how to pick a credible journal from the Think, Check, Submit initiative
How to scrutinise academic papers
Remember, most academic journals have their own writing style. Once you have selected a journal, you should examine 2-3 published papers for insight into how to present and structure your own.
Watch a BDC YouTube video guide to scrutinising academic papers
Copyright (online resources)
When undertaking and publishing research, you will likely be using works protected by copyright. This includes books, journals, film, websites, and other materials. Theses resources include key information about intellectual property and copyright for teaching and research.
View BDC's Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights resource on LinkedIn Learning
(Please note: you must log in to LinkedIn Learning using your UoB email address to access this resource.)
Access copyright information via the library website
You can also email the library team for copyright advice at lib-copyright@bristol.ac.uk
Engagement and Impact
Thinking about how, when and why to engage relevant people with/in your research is an important consideration - especially when considering the impact of your research on wider society.
Public Engagement at UoB (online resources)
The Public Engagement team at UoB offer a range of support to help you understand engagement and impact and why it is important. Their Sharepoint pages include links to training resources and engagement opportunities, as well as potential funding streams.
Visit the Public Engagement sharepoint site to find out more
You may need to log in using your UoB credentials for access.
Introduction to Public Engagement with Research (workshop)
This workshop explores what we mean by public engagement and why it is important. Participants will find out what kinds of activities are categorised as public engagement, and examine the skills required to carry out effective and ethical engagement. You will also get the chance to explore current opportunities to take part in public engagement at UoB!
Methods of Engagement (online resources)
There are countless ways to promote your research (to both academics and the public), some of which are listed below.
- Speaking at relevant sector events and conferences
- Running a stand at a festival or a community event
- Writing for relevant professional audiences (e.g. via a professional newsletter)
- Writing for non-academic audiences (e.g. a popular science magazine)
- Creating visual materials to communicate research (videos, animations, photographs)
- Working with the University central marketing to promote research stories nationally and internationally
- Social media, websites, blogs and guest blogs
- Using internal promotion channels (e.g. school newsletters and staff bulletins)
The methods you use will depend on what you hope to achieve: are you trying to raise awareness? Do you have a specific call to action?
Remember to consider your target audience and try to pick the method that will best convey your message to your chosen group. Be prepared to try different things to find out what works and what doesn't!
Find out more about some of the methods above via UoB's Public Engagement Sharepoint pages.
Remember to log in using your UoB credentials for access.