Professor Richard Holliman

Profile
Publications

Professional biography

I am Professor of Engaged Research at the Open University, UK. I am also currently the Head of the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences.

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.

Publications

Journal articles

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

Edited book

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

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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