CPE at The AAS focuses on non-specialist publics other than media and policy makers.  Although engagement approaches across these three categories may be similar, the outcomes sought differ. 

• CPE goals focus on building trust and perspective seeking 
• Media engagement focuses on building capacity for accurate and authoritative reporting on science and health research, with the goal of enhancing knowledge transfer and defending science
• Policy engagement in science and health research aims to ensure that  academic research contributes to  policy decisions.

• It secures ethical compliance
• Facilitates participant recruitment and retention
• Improves design of research questions and procedures,
• Builds trust in science and scientists
• Improves research outcomes
• Increases uptake of research findings and policies
• Inspires future generations of scientists
• Creates an overall environment in which science can flourish.

Research and Innovation would be seen as an endeavour of “outsiders” leading to:

•  Misinformation/misconceptions
• Refusal of study initiation by regulatory bodies (Planned PrEP trials in Nigeria and Cameroon)
• Pre-mature study closure or termination (PrEP trials in Cambodia)
• Futile study results due to non-use of study product or poor retention (MTN003 VOICE trial in South Africa)
• Poor uptake of health products (FC2 female condom in Sub – Saharan Africa)
• Loss of millions of research fund

• The AAS has developed a 3-year CPE strategy prioritising DELTAS Africa and H3Africa programmes.  
• The strategy focuses on building and/or strengthening CPE capacity among AAS grant holders through:
• Training of, and cross-learning among engagement staff at lead institutions of each research consortium
• Advocacy with Institutional leadership – making a case for integration and prioritisation of CPE within institutions
• Implementing a £600,000 CPE seed fund through a call for proposals targeting DELTAS Africa doctoral and to receive updates or to partner with us.