Citizen science and consumer engagement – are they the same?

  • Citizen science and consumer engagement – are they the same?

Citizen science and consumer engagement – are they the same?

Since many grant bodies require significant consumer input, co-designing projects from the inception, the webinar will explore if the long-standing citizen science approach still holds. Given the changing landscape of grant funding, worldwide turmoil, and changes in research environments, we now more than ever, need to be more strategic in working for and with the public consumers.

The speakers:

  • Professor Brian Head, UQ
  • A/Prof Jen Seevinck, QUT
  • A/Prof Carl Woods, Queensland Academy of Sport and UQ
  • Adjunct A/Prof Zoe Rutherford, Queensland Health and UQ

Moderator: Prof Brenda Gannon, UQ

Watch the video:

Our panel:

Professor Brian Head has been Professor of Public Policy at the University of Queensland since 2007. He was also a Director of the Centre for Policy Futures. He previously held several senior roles in government agencies and the NFP sector. He has published widely on evidence-based policy, wicked problems, social issues, environmental policy, and how to build bridges between academia and other sectors. He teaches in the Masters program in Public Policy & Governance at UQ. His most recent book Wicked Problems in Public Policy (Palgrave 2022) is available as a free download at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94580-0.

Associate Professor Jen Seevinck is a design researcher and practitioner at QUT’s School of Design who specializes in participatory approaches to research and community engagement. As chief investigator across the QUT Design Lab and Centre for Environment and Society, and co-leader of the More-than-Human Futures research group, she creates data visualisations and interactive systems that amplify marginalised voices and facilitate public engagement with complex issues. Her collaborative practice spans partnerships with health organizations, citizen scientists, environmental researchers, and community groups, transforming research into accessible visual forms that enable meaningful public participation. Seevinck’s work includes advocacy for aged care communities, science communication projects with CSIRO and Queensland Health, and interactive artworks exhibited internationally. Her approach bridges traditional research outputs with community-centred design methods that prioritise stakeholder agency and co-creation.

Associate Professor Carl Woods is a theoretical skill acquisition scientist, studying human-environment interactions at the intersection of sport science, ecological psychology and social anthropology. In addition to his appointment at the University of Queensland, he is the Learning Design Lead at the Queensland Academy of Sport, and Learning Design National Discipline Lead for Australian Athletics. Carl has a unique blend of theoretical and applied experiences, having held research leadership positions within the Institute for Health and Sport at Victoria University, while coordinating coaching science, skill acquisition, and innovation within the Australian Football League. Given these diverse experiences, his research spans three major themes: 1) theoretical advancements to the field of sport science; 2) exploring ways of fostering human-environment interactions through the promotion of ecologically literate behaviour; 3) addressing practical challenges in sport related to performance preparation, practice task design, and coach education.

Adjunct Associate Professor Zoe Rutherford is Stream Lead at the Mental Health Evaluation Research Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Queensland Health, and Associate Professor at the School of Public Health at UQ.

Professor Brenda Gannon is an international interdisciplinary leader providing evidence and solutions for health and social care systems, spanning across health economics, medicine and social science, in collaboration with academia and industry. She brings extensive experience and expertise in program and policy development related to health, social inclusion, and citizen science, fostering and advancing excellence at the intersection of many disciplines. She is a Professor in the School of Economics and an Affiliate Professor at the Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland. She is former Director of Research in the School of Economics. Her work has been influential in the development of programs for falls preventions and informing policy on disability and social inclusion, and has positively impacted on the health of many older people across the world. Her research is funded by her position as chief investigator on projects from the Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council, MRFF, EU H2020. She has provided advice to government at senior levels, and had a Ministerial appointment, on the Medical Services Advisory Committee Evaluation Sub-Committee 2017-2021. She sits regularly as a panel member of various NHMRC and MRFF grant review committees and has also previously appointed to the EU Commission grant panels. She has been invited to give several talks at international fora, most recently as an expert advisor the World Health Organisation, and a key note talk on ageing and longevity at the National Academy of Medicine, Global Roadmap to Healthy Longevity, in Washington DC. Professor Gannon was an elected Professorial member of the Academic Board at UQ 2018-2022. In 2023, Professor Gannon was elected a Fellow of the Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences. She has been elected as a Council Member of Queensland Academy of Arts and Sciences since 2024.

Details:

Start Date: 05/09/2025 [add to calendar]