As part of my PhD project aimed at improving older adults' involvement in decision-making about their care transitions, I have been working closely with the public, with a special focus on underserved areas in Aberdeen. Through various networking opportunities, I’ve met some incredible people from the third sector, attending events such as the '3rd Sector Mental Health & Wellbeing Networking Event and the Grampian Gathering', finding out more about the great projects running in Aberdeen and beyond. I have also participated in community events tailored to underserved populations, like Boogie in the Bar, where I met some people who were happy to share their lived experiences related and unrelated to my project, and invited me to their group meetings beyond the event.
I wholeheartedly encourage other researchers to actively engage with communities that may not often have the opportunity to collaborate with the university. Doing so can address the lack of diversity in our research and create a more inclusive approach to academia. I won't lie, despite engaging with all of these, the recruitment isn't easy, but I do get a lot of feedback and suggestions, as well as personal stories that can help me design my study around the people who I want to benefit from it.
Being involved in these activities has also paid off as I had the privilege of being a guest on local Aberdeenshire radio station SHMU, as part of the Stay Well, Stay Connected show. This platform allowed me to share information about the project and potentially reach a broader audience. Regardless of the recruitment outcomes, I think it's a great thing to promote how the university is involved in trying to make people's lives better.
Listen to Lucy on SHMU FM here: https://www.mixcloud.com/SHMUFM/stay-well-stay-connected-aberdeen-university-study/
Lucy graduated from the University of Aberdeen with both an MA in Psychology and an MRes in Psychology. She is now a PhD student in Applied Health Sciences, working on a project funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust focused on supporting future care decisions for older adults. Her research is supervised by Dr Stephen Makin, Prof Louise Locock, and Prof Louise Phillips.
