Creative methods and practices to mobilising public health knowledge
Join us as part of the NIHR-funded KNOW-PH webinar series where we explore innovative approaches to public health knowledge mobilisation.
Date and time
Location
Online
About this event
- Event lasts 1 hour
In the field of public health, mobilising evidence and other forms of knowledge is essential to developing effective, equitable, and sustainable interventions. However, the process of translating complex scientific findings into actionable strategies often faces significant challenges, including communication barriers, stakeholder engagement, and the need for context-sensitive solutions.
This webinar explores the concept of "working creatively" or “using creative methods and practices” to overcome these obstacles and enhance the impact of public health research. Drawing on examples from diverse health sectors, we will illustrate how creative approaches—such as the use of storytelling, performance, lego, songs, participatory research methods, and digital media—can facilitate the transfer of knowledge from research to practice. By engaging multiple stakeholders, including policymakers, communities, and the public, these creative strategies ensure that evidence is not only accessible but also resonates with diverse audiences.
We will discuss the role of interdisciplinary collaborations, where knowledge from fields such as design, the arts, and communication can enrich traditional public health approaches and help to create more compelling narratives around health issues. We will highlight the importance of adaptability and flexibility in the knowledge mobilization process, emphasizing that creative approaches allow for the integration of diverse forms of evidence, including lived experience, cultural insights, and local wisdom.
Andy Tattersall (Chair)
Andy Tattersall is a Open Research Communications Specialist at the School of Medicine and Population health at the University of Sheffield. Andy writes, teaches and gives talks about digital academia, social media, communications, open research and altmetrics. Andy received a Senate Award from The University of Sheffield for his pioneering work on Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Andy was named in Jisc’s Top 10 Social Media Superstars in 2017 and one of their Community Champions in 2025. Andy co-wrote and edited a book on Altmetrics for Facet Publishing in 2016.
Laura Evans-Hill
Laura is a trained social researcher, and founder and director of Nifty Fox Creative. Nifty is an award-winning research communications agency. Laura worked in the university sector for ten years communicating research beyond the academy, before rebelling to set up Nifty in 2017 to revolutionise the way we drive impact with lay audiences. Nifty has worked with over 50 universities internationally, 3000+ researchers and 80 public sector organisations like the NHS, UK Government, the UN and international parliaments to help them tell their stories visually so audiences listen. Nifty won Best Visual Communications Agency UK 2024, UK Enterprise Award for Social Impact 2024 and SME News Animation Agency of the Year 2025 for its innovative use of visual storytelling and graphic facilitation to democratise research hierarchies and increase public involvement in research. Laura also won the Top 42 Under 42 Directors award from Insider Media in 2025. Nifty regularly supports the NIHR and NHS on their public engagement in research initiatives, and Laura teaches at universities around the world on knowledge mobilisation and public engagement in research impact.
Dr Fiona Marshall
Since 2007, Fiona has immersed herself in health and social care research, specialising in qualitative approaches. Fiona’s mission is to bridge the perspectives of users and providers, fostering trust and collaborative knowledge exchange. She has focused on dissecting large organisations' designs and delivery systems to optimize services, exploring areas like ageing, neurological rehabilitation, disability theory, rural care, and therapies, including virtual reality and animal-assisted interventions. Fiona leverages innovative methods like LEGO Serious Play for creative collaboration. Her goal is to drive impactful change by amplifying voices and pushing the boundaries of conventional public health and healthcare wisdom drawing on robust evidence.
Fiona.Marshall@nottingham.ac.uk
University of Nottingham webpage
Dr Joe Langley
Joe leads the co-production work and the use of various creative approaches for KNOW-PH. He has a background in design engineering and knowledge mobilisation. Joe has worked at Sheffield Hallam University since 2007. A large part of his role explores the use of creative methods and design practices in co-production to help mobilise evidence into practice and policy.
j.langley@shu.ac.uk