It’s Time to Speak Up for Health Research
An Irish Health Research Forum Workshop for Action
November 19th (Dublin) and December 11th (Cork)
Do you ever wish we were better in Ireland at making the case for health research to politicians, policymakers and the public?
Would you like to feel more confident, clear and persuasive when talking about the value of research in tackling Ireland’s biggest health challenges?
Health research deserves greater investment and attention, but that won’t happen unless we stand up and make the case for it. Join us for a discussion-based action workshop, designed to explore how we, as a community, can speak with a stronger, more united voice for health research.
What?
A small, discussion-based workshop, inspired by the excellent work of the Campaign for Science & Engineering (CaSE) in the UK. This isn’t about lobbying techniques but about the words we choose, the stories we tell, and how we connect research to real-world impact. The session will take an evidence-led approach, drawing from CaSE’s UK-focused data and then working together as a group to explore the parallels and contrasts that will exist within the Irish context.
Why?
This workshop for action will help you become a more confident and effective advocate for health research – whether you’re speaking to a politician or explaining your work to the public. You’ll leave with practical messaging strategies and discussions that will feed into the creation of an accessible guide to support more confident and consistent messaging across the sector.
For who?
Whether you’re a researcher, a communications officer, a patient advocate, an industry representative or someone working in policy or funding — this is for anyone who believes in the power of health research and wants to help it thrive.
Registration and timings
Registration for these workshops is essential. If you are interested in attending the Cork workshop, please register below.
The events will open at 9.30am for networking and registration. The workshops will begin at 10am and finish at 1pm.
Guest speakers
Dr Ben Bleasdale joined us at the Dublin event. Ben leads CaSE’s ground-breaking work on public attitudes to research and how to communicate them effectively to politicians and the public. Ben joined CaSE in August 2021 and leads the Public Opinion team. He previously held roles at the Wellcome Trust, Academy of Medical Sciences and the Medical Research Council, having completed a PhD at Imperial College London in virology.
Associate Professor Nicola Mountford will join us at the Cork event. Nicola is a leading researcher based in Maynooth University, focused on how people and communities build legitimacy to shape public narratives, challenge policy processes, and redefine value in healthcare.
About CaSE
CaSE (the Campaign for Science and Engineering) is the leading independent voice for UK R&D. They are a charity supported by a diverse membership including businesses, universities, professional bodies, research charities and individuals. Their members span the whole breadth of R&D – including discovery research, science, engineering, and innovation across the public, private, and charitable sectors. CaSE’s public opinion research and advocacy work has raised the profile of R&D as a political and societal priority, among the public and politicians.
At the Dublin workshop, Ben Bleasdale shared the results of CaSE’s major research study, Public Attitudes to R&D 2025. You can find the full report here
