Interact Symposium

An engagement symposium for the physical sciences, based in the UK

The Interact symposium will return on Tuesday 24th November 2026, as a three-day online event. The decision has been taken to hold the next Interact symposium online, because this will:

• Encourage wider participation and allow attendees to select which parts of the agenda will have the most impact upon their development.
• Allow us to cater to the needs of a diverse audience and also provide us with data as to which elements are most popular.
• Enable delegates to attend the parts of the programme which appeal to them in a flexible way.
• Enable effective continuation of practice sharing in a time of constrained budgets.
• Allow for sessions to be viewed online all year around via the interact website, alongside related previous resources.

The aim of the conference is to support the diverse community of practitioners and leaders of engagement within the physical sciences, and to encourage a culture of strategic and reflective practice. This event offers something for everyone with an interest in improving their public engagement skills. It will provide a fantastic opportunity to learn new ways to engage with your communities and to hear from both practitioners and the communities themselves. While we openly acknowledge networking will feel a little different online, there will be opportunities to share your own experiences, and to discuss opportunities for innovation and development within the sector.

The conference will be free to attend. Registration links and dates below.

Day 1 – Tuesday 24 November

Engagement mediums & practices (including creative mediums & practices) 

Exploring different engagement methods and mediums to develop strategic, long-term, and ethically-sound programmes. Learning from in-person, hybrid and online activities help practitioners to configure activities which are suitable for their audience, and their institution / research needs.

Day 2 – Wednesday 25 November

Engaging with underrepresented audiences in the physical sciences

Developing long-term community partnerships, active listening and learning, creating equitable engagement. Challenging stereotypes and assumptions within engagement practice.

Day 3 – Thursday 26 November

Leadership for the long-term

Developing skills, attributes and behaviours to facilitate an embedded and sustained commitment to outreach and public engagement (OPE). Effective leadership and management are critical to ensuring that those delivering OPE feel supported and that programmes can develop in line with current good practice.

Building on past symposia, The Ogden Trust, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the Institute of Physics, the South East Physics Network (SEPnet), and the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) are partnering together to co-create an inspiring, challenging and refreshing programme with you, the physical sciences public engagement community.