Professor Richard Holliman

Professional biography

I am Professor of Engaged Research at the Open University, UK. Through my academic work I examine tensions between theories and practices of knowledge exchange by evaluating examples where researchers and ‘publics’ have sought to (co)produce impacts derived from research. In combining research and practice through this work, I have developed the concept of engaged research, a principled approach to co-constructing ‘publics’ (stakeholders, end-users and members of the public) to work reflexively in meaningful ways to generate, reflect on and evidence social and economic impacts. I have argued most recently that engaged research should have a moral imperative to act as a route to promoting epistemic justice, or ‘fairness in knowing’.

Research interests

My research interests lie in exploring the ways that academic research is communicated via a range of media and genres, and how ideas about (upstream) public engagement with research may be shifting and extending social practices. Combining theory with practice through action research, I have explored:

Developments with digital technologies and how they mediate interaction and online activity, influencing and extending opportunities for participation and collaboration;
The evolving nature of media industries as they adapt to, and drive monetised innovation within an increasingly digital media ecosystem; and
The ways in which i) digital technologies, ii) calls for increased engagement, and iii) the greater visibility and value afforded to contributions from stakeholders, user communities, members of the public and academics, are shifting and extending academic’s scholarly practices.

My research publications are hosted on Open Research Online.

Teaching interests

S350 Evaluating Contemporary Science

Effective communication is at the heart of good science. For as long as humans have tried to understand the natural world they have used various forms of communication to share information and ideas, with a view to improving our collective understanding. With the advent and widespread adoption of digital tools for communication the potential for citizens to contribute to the sciences has never been greater. This module will help you to explore the evolving landscape of science communication, developing skills in critical evaluation and communication, whilst exploring a range of contemporary topics in the sciences.

Research groups

Name	Type	Parent Unit
Computers and Learning Research Group (CALRG)	Group	Institute of Educational Technology

Externally funded projects

Landscape stories: engaging with environmental science through storytelling

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Co-investigator	25 Jul 2022	28 Feb 2023	NERC Natural Environment Research Council
We will work with a grassroots ethnic minority walking organisation to co-design walking routes that showcase aspects of the geological, landscape and ecological evolution of their local area that specifically link to OU research. This will: • Improve visibility of EES (and EES careers) within diverse communities who are under-represented in EES research • Engage these communities in cutting-edge EES from the Open University • Encourage confidence in walk leaders to communicate the science of the environment to their walk participants. • Train Earth/environmental scientists in mixed-methods approaches to public engagement evaluation

Walking the Walk: Co-producing approaches to diversifying participation in Earth and environmental science education and careers

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Co-investigator	01 Dec 2021	30 Jun 2022	NERC Natural Environment Research Council
For many people working in the environmental sciences today, the first spark of interest in the field came from experiences in nature. Whether walking, hiking or visiting the coast, immersion in the natural world can often plant the seeds of curiosity that lead to a lifelong desire to know more about how and why it works. In the UK, much of the natural “the countryside” is perceived as an overwhelmingly “white” space, hostile to people from non-white backgrounds. Not only does this mean that for many that seed is never planted, but the lack of familiarity with experiences in “the outdoors” means the fieldwork seen as necessary for an environmental education (and commonly required for accredited degree programs) presents a barrier to degree level study. This is a major problem for the field, as environmental impacts such as those driven by climate change affect everyone. Financial, cultural and opportunity barrier to accessing the outdoors, are recognised by both environmental organisations and grassroots groups. This project will bring together environmental scientists and grassroot community groups to tackle barriers in order to make outdoor learning accessible to all. We will test approaches to bring environmental science learning directly to those trying to make the UK countryside a more inclusive environment and learn from the experiences of both environmental scientists and activist groups in spending time immersed in nature.

[E3] - Astrobiology at The Open University

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Co-investigator	01 Aug 2019	31 Mar 2023	Research England
Astrobiology is an emerging scientific field and is driven by the question ‘are we alone in the Universe?’ With an increasing number of life-detection/habitability missions, astrobiology is at the core of nations’ space strategies. The Open University Astrobiology Unit focuses on understanding how, and where, life might be found, by combining field work, laboratory simulations and mission data. Building on this expertise, Unit members are involved in key astrobiology-related missions and in developing planetary protection regulations. E3 funding will build capacity in line with future missions by furthering our understanding of extraterrestrial environments and potential life, through developing facilities to simulate these environments and investigating analogue sites. This is aimed at understanding if, and where, life may be found beyond the Earth. The Unit will develop its expertise to meet the new challenges that arise as the private sector and smaller nations develop exploration capacity. This includes supporting the sector to meet, and define, planetary protection requirements and to address space governance, for example, ensuring environmental sustainability of missions. The Unit will develop relevant education material for the expanding space sector, and it will work to ensure knowledge and expertise in astrobiology is used in a just and equitable manner. Sustainability of the Unit will be underpinned by commercial services, external funding, and University investment. The Unit will support the growth of astrobiology networks of industry, higher educational institutes and policymakers, and early career researchers, to ensure that the UK is globally recognised and influential within the field.

Engaging Environmental Research: Developing Productive Partnerships With End-users - Staff costs

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Co-investigator	01 Oct 2016	30 Sep 2017	Birmingham University
This award allows Prof Rick Holliman and Dr Clare Warren to offer three week-long hands-on training workshops in 2017 for postgraduate researchers in the environmental sciences. The workshops will teach researchers how to identify and engage with end-users and research stakeholders.

Engaging Opportunities (Extension)

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Lead	01 Jan 2016	31 Dec 2016	RCUK Research Councils UK
In March 2015, RCUK extended the funding to projects participating in the School-University Partnerships Initiative by one year. The purpose of the 12-month extension (Jan-Dec 2016) is to enable our partnership with the Denbigh Teaching School Alliance to develop a particular emphasis on embedding and sustainability in the final phase of the Initiative.

Communication and engagement training for postgraduate and early-career researchers working in environmental research

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Lead	01 Jan 2015	31 Mar 2015	NERC Natural Environment Research Council
Working through the NERC-funded CENTA Doctoral Training Partnership this project is supporting postgraduate researchers, supervisors, and early-career researchers as they develop productive partnerships with the end-users of their environmental research, and to communicate the economic and social significance of their work.

An open research university: How to embed public engagement within the culture of research (RS-11-005-TB)

Role	Start date	End date	Funding source
Co-investigator	01 Apr 2012	31 Mar 2015	RCUK Research Councils UK
The aim of this proposal is to embed public engagement with research within The Open University’s (OU) strategic planning for research and the operational practices of researchers at all levels; to become an open research university.

Publications

Journal articles

A case study from Guyana of adapting engaged research design to promote ‘fairness in knowing’ (2022)
Holliman, Richard; Marino, Alessandra; Grand, Ann; Berardi, Andrea; Mistry, Jay; Jafferally, Deirdre; Thomas, Raquel; Roberts, Grace; Marcus, Carol-Ann; Roopsind, Indranee and Roberts, Anthony
Research for All, 6(1) (pp. 1-17)

Supporting excellence in engaged research (2017-12-13)
Holliman, Richard
Journal of Science Communication, 16, Article C4(5) (pp. 1-10)

Supporting future scholars of engaged research (2017-01-30)
Holliman, Richard and Warren, Clare
Research for All, 1(1) (pp. 168-184)

"We muddle our way through": shared and distributed expertise in digital engagement with research (2016-06-09)
Grand, Ann; Holliman, Richard; Collins, Trevor and Adams, Anne
Journal of Science Communication, 15, Article A05(4) (pp. 1-23)

Norms and values in UK science engagement practice (2016-01-01)
Jensen, Eric and Holliman, Richard
International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement, 6(1) (pp. 68-88)

Moving beyond the seductive siren of reach: planning for the social and economic impacts emerging from school-university engagement with research (2015-09-29)
Holliman, Richard and Davies, Gareth
Journal of Science Communication, 14, Article C06(3)

Mapping Public Engagement with Research in a UK University (2015-04-02)
Grand, Ann; Davies, Gareth; Holliman, Richard and Adams, Anne
PLoS ONE, 10(4) (pp. 1-19)

Telling science stories in an evolving digital media ecosystem: from communication to conversation and confrontation (2011-12)
Holliman, Richard
Journal of Science Communication, 10(4) (pp. 1-4)

Advocacy in the tail: Exploring the implications of ‘climategate’ for science journalism and public debate in the digital age (2011-10)
Holliman, Richard
Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, 12(7) (pp. 832-846)

From analogue to digital scholarship: implications for science communication researchers (2010-09)
Holliman, Richard
Journal of Science Communication, 9(3) (C05)

Reporting environmental news: newspapers in the digital age (2007-06)
Holliman, Richard
Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 5(5) (pp. 277-278)

Editorial (2006-09)
Holliman, Richard and Thomas, Jeff
Curriculum Journal, 17(3) (pp. 193-196)

The emergence of the controversy around the theory of evolution and creationism in UK newspaper reports (2006-09)
Holliman, Richard and Allgaier, Joachim
Curriculum Journal, 17(3) (pp. 263-279)

Investigating co-operation and collaboration in near synchronous computer mediated conferences (2006)
Holliman, Richard and Scanlon, Eileen
Computers and Education, 46(3) (pp. 322-335)

Reception analyses of science news: evaluating focus groups as a method (2005)
Holliman, Richard
Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale, 26(76-77) (pp. 254-264)

Media coverage of cloning: A study of media content, production and reception (2004-04)
Holliman, Richard
Public Understanding of Science, 13(2) (pp. 107-130)

ENSCOT: The European Network of Science Communication Teachers (2003)
Holliman, Richard
Public understanding of science, 12(2) (pp. 167-181)

Book chapters

Planning for engaged research: a collaborative ‘Labcast’ (2017-11-30)
Holliman, Richard; Davies, Gareth; Pearson, Victoria; Collins, Trevor; Sheridan, Simon; Brown, Helen; Hallam, Jenny and Russell, Mark
In: Kucirkova, Natalia and Quinlan, Oliver eds. The Digitally Agile Researcher (pp. 88-106)
ISBN : 978-0-335-26152-9 | Publisher : Open University Press | Published : London

Online citizen science: participation, motivation, and opportunities for informal learning (2017)
Curtis, Vickie; Holliman, Richard; Jones, Ann and Scanlon, Eileen
In: Herodotou, Christothea; Sharples, Mike and Scanlon, Eileen eds. Citizen Inquiry: Synthesising Science and Inquiry Learning (pp. 7-24)
ISBN : 1138208698 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

Online media (2015)
Holliman, Richard and Curtis, Vickie
In: Gunstone, Richard ed. Encyclopedia of Science Education
ISBN : 978-94-007-2149-4 | Publisher : Springer Netherlands

The Struggle for Scientific Consensus: Communicating Climate Science around COP-15 (2012)
Holliman, Rick
In: Wagoner, Brady; Jensen, Eric and Oldmeadow, Julian A. eds. Culture and Social change: Transforming Society Through the Power of Ideas. Advances in Cultural Psychology: Constructing Human Development (pp. 185-207)
ISBN : 978-1-61735-758-9 | Publisher : Information Age Publishing | Published : Charlotte, N.C., USA

Media convergence (2010-09)
Holliman, Richard
In: Priest, Susanna ed. Encyclopaedia of Science and Technology Communication
ISBN : 9781412959209 | Publisher : Sage | Published : Newbury Park, CA, USA

Online media and the sciences (2010-09)
Holliman, Richard
In: Priest, Susanna ed. Encyclopaedia of Science and Technology Communication
ISBN : 9781412959209 | Publisher : Sage | Published : Newbury Park, CA, USA

(In)authentic science and (im)partial publics: (re)constructing the science outreach and public engagement agenda (2009-09-25)
Holliman, Richard and Jensen, Eric
In: Holliman, Richard; Whitelegg, Elizabeth; Scanlon, Eileen; Smidt, Sam and Thomas, Jeff eds. Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age: Implications for public engagement and popular media (pp. 35-52)
ISBN : 978-0-19-955266-5 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford, UK

Interpreting contested science: media influence and scientific citizenship (2009-09-25)
Holliman, Richard and Scanlon, Eileen
In: Holliman, Richard; Whitelegg, Elizabeth; Scanlon, Eileen; Smidt, Sam and Thomas, Jeff eds. Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age: Implications for public engagement and popular media (pp. 254-273)
ISBN : 978-0-19-955266-5 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford, UK

Investigating science communication to inform science outreach and public engagement (2009-09-25)
Jensen, Eric and Holliman, Richard
In: Holliman, Richard; Whitelegg, Elizabeth; Scanlon, Eileen; Smidt, Sam and Thomas, Jeff eds. Investigating Science Communication in the Information Age: Implications for public engagement and popular media (pp. 55-71)
ISBN : 978-0-19-955266-5 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford, UK

Investigating gendered representations of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians on UK children’s television (2009)
Carr, Jennifer; Whitelegg, Liz; Holliman, Richard; Scanlon, Eileen and Hodgson, Barbara
In: Holliman, Richard; Whitelegg, Liz; Scanlon, Eileen; Smidt, Sam and Thomas, Jeff eds. Investigating science communication in the information age: Implications for public engagement and popular media (pp. 237-252)
ISBN : 978-0-19-955266-5 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford, UK

Communicating science in the digital age - issues and prospects for public engagement (2008)
Holliman, Richard
In: MacLennan, Jennifer ed. Readings for Technical Communication (pp. 68-76)
ISBN : 978-0-19-542322-8 | Publisher : Oxford University Press Canada | Published : Canada

Representing science through multiple-channel digital television: opportunities for dialogue, engagement and deliberation? (2007)
Holliman, Richard
In: Claessens, M. ed. Communicating European Research 2005 (pp. 159-164)
ISBN : 1 402053 57 6 | Publisher : Springer | Published : Dordrecht

British public affairs media and the coverage of ‘Life on Mars?’ (1998-12-17)
Holliman, Richard
In: Scanlon, Eileen; Whitelegg, Liz and Yates, Simeon eds. Communicating Science: Contexts and Channels (pp. 270-286)
ISBN : 9780415197533 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : London and New York

The Media and the Rwanda Crisis: Effects on Audiences and Public Policy (1998-09-06)
Philo, Greg; Hilsum, Lindsey; Beattie, Liza and Holliman, Rick
In: Pieterse, Jan Nederveen ed. World Orders in the Making: Humanitarian Intervention and Beyond. Institute of Social Studies, The Hague (pp. 211-229)
ISBN : 978-0-333-74156-6 | Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan | Published : London

Edited books

An Open Research University (2015)
Holliman, Richard; Adams, Anne; Blackman, Tim; Collins, Trevor; Davies, Gareth; Dibb, Sally; Grand, Ann; Holti, Richard; Mckerlie, Fiona; Mahony, Nick and Wissenburg, Astrid
Holliman, Richard; Adams, Anne; Blackman, Tim; Collins, Trevor; Davies, Gareth; Dibb, Sally; Grand, Ann; Holti, Richard; Mckerlie, Fiona; Mahony, Nick and Wissenburg, Astrid eds.
ISBN : 9781473004030 | Publisher : The Open University | Published : Milton Keynes

Investigating science communication in the information age: Implications for public engagement and popular media (2009)
Holliman, Richard; Whitelegg, Liz; Scanlon, Eileen; Smidt, Sam and Thomas, Jeff eds.
ISBN : 978-0-19-955266-5 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford, UK

Practising science communication in the information age: Theorising professional practices (2009)
Holliman, Richard; Thomas, Jeff; Smidt, Sam; Scanlon, Eileen and Whitelegg, Liz eds.
ISBN : 978-0-19-955267-2 | Publisher : Oxford University Press | Published : Oxford, UK

Mediating science learning through information and communications technology (2004)
Holliman, Richard and Scanlon, Eileen eds.
ISBN : 0 415328 3 22 | Publisher : RoutledgeFalmer | Published : London

Conference items

How to effectively communicate your research with external partners and publics (2023-12-07)
Holliman, Richard
In : THE Campus Live UK & IE 2023 (6-7 Dec 2023, Liverpool)

Have developments in engagement and impact outpaced provision for ‘an engaged PhD journey’? (2023-12-06)
Holliman, Richard; Smith McGloin, Rebekah and Danner, Elizabeth
In : NCCPE Engage 2023: Changing Practices (6 Dec 2023, Online)

Exploring perspectives of minoritized community walking group leaders to make access to nature more equitable, diverse and inclusive (2023-04-14)
Holliman, Richard; Smith, Kelly; Khatwa, Anjana; Warren, Clare; Araya, Yoseph; Ansine, Janice and Badger, Marcus
In : International PCST Conference : Creating Common Ground (11-14 Apr 2023, Rotterdam)

Transforming astrobiology research and innovation: embedding an ethos of engaged research (2021-05-25)
Holliman, Richard; Marino, Alessandra; Berardi, Andrea; Grand, Ann; Mistry, Jay; Jafferally, Deirdre; Thomas, Raquel; Roberts, Grace; Marcus, Carol-Ann; Roopsind, Indranee; Roberts, Anthony; Davies, Sarah-Jane; Pearson, Victoria; Cooper, Hannah and Olsson-Francis, Karen
In : Public Communication of Science and Technology Conference: Time, Technology and Transformation (24-27 May 2021, Online)

Openness and collaboration in astrobiology education (2020)
Grand, Ann; Davies, Sarah-Jane; Pearson, Victoria; Holliman, Richard and Olsson-Francis, Karen
In : Europlanet Science Congress 2020 (21 Sep - 9 Oct 2020, Virtual)

[Opening Keynote] Promoting epistemic justice through knowledge exchange (2019)
Holliman, Richard
In : Research and Knowledge Exchange (27 Jun 2019, University of East London)

Exploring gendered stereotypes on science television with children and young people: towards a classroom application (2009)
Whitelegg, L.; Carr, J.; Holliman, R.; Hodgson, B. and Scanlon, E.
In : European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) (31 Aug - 4 Sep 2009, Istanbul)

Invisible witnesses? How scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians are represented on UK television (2007)
Whitelegg, Liz; Holliman, Richard; Allgaier, Joachim; Hodgson, Barbara and Scanlon, Eileen
In : Paper presented at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference (6-9 Sep, University of Warwick, UK)

Investigating mobile science learning in workplace settings (2007)
Marshall, Christine; Issroff, Kim; Scanlon, Eileen; Blake, Canan; Holliman, Richard; Smidt, Samantha; Clough, Gill; Banks, Frank; Jones, Ann; Roche, Nel and Waycott, Jenny
In : CAL07: Development, Disruption and Debate - D3 (26-28 Mar 2007, Dublin, Ireland)

PDAS as workplace tools for science teachers (2007)
Scanlon, Eileen; Banks, Frank; Blake, Canan; Clough, Gill; Jones, Ann; Holliman, Richard; Issroff, Kim; Marshall, Christine; Roche, Nel; Smidt, Samantha and Waycott, Jenny
In : IADIS International Conference - Mobile Learning 2007 (5-7 Jul, Lisbon, Portugal)

Thesis

Representing science in the UK news media: ‘Life on Mars?’, cell nucleus replacement and Gulf War syndrome (2000-03-30)
Holliman, Richard Michael
PhD thesis The Open University

Other

Co-constructing ‘third spaces’ for engagement between minoritized community groups and environmental scientists (2024-02-27)
Holliman, Richard; Ludhra, Geeta; Warren, Clare J.; Khatwa, Anjana; Araya, Yoseph; Smith, Kelly; Ansine, Janice and Badger, Marcus P.S.
EarthArXiv

Fairness in knowing: How should we engage with the sciences? (2019-03-12)
Holliman, Richard
The Open University, Milton Keynes.

Engaging Opportunities: Connecting young people with contemporary research and researchers (2018-02-01)
Holliman, Richard; Davies, Gareth; Ford, Diane; Russell, Mark; Steed, Anthony; Brown, Helen; Pearson, Victoria; Collins, Trevor; Stutchbury, Kris; Squires, Andrew; Scanlon, Eileen; Whitelegg, Liz; Ansine, Janice; Braithwaite, N St.J; Swithenby, Stephen; Dommett, Ellie; Sumner, Janet; Lee, Clare; Kendall, Joe; Green, Penny; Sharp, Damien; Bullivant, Mike; Devine, Peter and Hawthorne, Val
The Open University and the Denbigh Teaching School Alliance, Milton Keynes.

Pathways to Excellence in Public Engagement (2018)
Holliman, Richard; Hollingworth, Neville; McCombie, June; Leech, Katherine; Townsley, Ruth; Fuller, Ian and Gillespie, Derek
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Swindon.

Public Engagement: Attitudes, Culture and Ethos (2016)
Duncan, Sophie; Grand, Ann; Hope-Stone, Hugh; Holliman, Richard; Hollingworth, Neville; Chambers, Jennie; Norton, Andrew; McDonald, Averil; Kukula, Marek and Gillespie, Derek
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Swindon.

ISOTOPE: Informing Science Outreach and Public Engagement. Final Report of the NESTA-funded ISOTOPE Project (2009-12)
Holliman, Richard; Collins, Trevor; Jensen, Eric and Taylor, Peter
The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.

(In)visible Witnesses: Drawing on young people’s media literacy skills to explore gendered representations of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (2009)
Carr, Jennifer; Whitelegg, Elizabeth; Holliman, Richard; Scanlon, Eileen and Hodgson, Barbara
UKRC, Bradford, UK.

(In)visible Witnesses: Investigating gendered representations of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians on UK children's television (2008-03)
Whitelegg, Elizabeth; Holliman, Richard; Carr, Jennifer; Scanlon, Eileen and Hodgson, Barbara
UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, Bradford, UK.

(In)visible Witnesses: Young people's views of images of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians on UK children's television from a gender perspective (Research Briefing) (2008-03)
Whitelegg, Elizabeth; Holliman, Richard; Carr, Jennifer; Scanlon, Eileen and Hodgson, Barbara
UK Resource Centre of Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, Bradford, UK.

Dataset for paper "Mapping public engagement with research in a UK university"
Grand, Ann; Davies, Gareth; Holliman, Richard and Adams, Anne

Research at The Open University

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