Night at the Vet College: Wellbeing! Evaluation Report Autumn 2017
With thanks to funders:
Responses to the question: What was the highlight of the event? Answers written on postcards on exit, n= 50. Image created using Tagxedo; words are proportional to their occurrence. 1
Night at the Vet College!
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Contents
1. Aims of Evaluation 2. Event Context 2.1 Aims 2.2 Objectives 2.3 RVC staff 2.4 Advertising 2.5 Web page 3. Event 3.1 Live events 3.2 Stand descriptions 4. Impact 4.1 Public 4.1.1 Who was there? 4.1.2 Where had they come from? 4.1.3 Why were they there? 4.1.4 What did they do? 4.1.5 What did visitors think of RVC Lates? 4.1.6 How did RVC Lates change visitor attitudes? 4.2 Staff 5. Recommendations 6. Conclusions
3 Report compiled by Dr Grace Sim
1. Aims of evaluation This evaluation report aims to summarise the impact of the public engagement event ‘Night at the Vet College: Wellbeing!’ which took place on Wednesday 22th November 2017. This is RVC’s sixth late opening event for the public. Evaluation aims to: • Document progress since the inception of Lates events (November 2012) • Provide evidence to meet requirements of funders • Collate evidence about the impact of the event for visitors, students and RVC staff • Provide insight to inform future RVC Access strategy
Evaluation Process
Event evaluation
• Visitors completed postcard feedback form on exiting RVC • Visitors were emailed an e-survey the day after the event
• RVC staff and students completed an online survey RVC staff feedback
Circulated to RVC staff and students
• Final report produced following circulation to RVC staff and students involved in the event, to incorporate feedback
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2. Event Context 2.1 Aims ‘Night at the Vet College: Wellbeing!’ took place on Wednesday November 22nd 2017, from1730-2200, on the Camden Campus at the Royal Veterinary College, London. It is the eighth RVC late opening event; the first was initiated in November 2012 by former Widening Participation Officer James Cannon. Events have grown from attendance of 150 up to the most recent event which saw 769 tickets booked. Our aims are based on our evaluation framework, incorporating RVC and funder objectives: • Skills: To provide opportunities to try out new skills or develop existing skills related to bioscience and veterinary research such as using microscopes and blood pressure monitors • Place: To highlight the cutting edge research at RVC • Emotion: To offer visitors a positive experiences of taking part in biosciences and veterinary -related activities such as speaking to researchers and participating in shows and demonstrations • Attitudes: To understand the relevance of biosciences and veterinary research to real life, both for humans and animals, and to have an appreciation of the creativity and diligence in the work of veterinary professionals • Knowledge: To understand current examples of research projects which investigate and provide insight into bioveterinary sciences and related topics Grateful thanks goes to Physiology Society for their financial support of this event. 2.2 Objectives • • • • •
Skills: Provide 10 stands which include hands-on elements for visitors to develop new skills or practice existing skills. Place: Offer tours of the RVC site in addition to making use of our lightwell and dissection areas, to showcase the resources at RVC. Emotion: Deliver one dissection and one lecture per event at minimum. We will work with Student Ambassadors and researchers to make the atmosphere welcoming and friendly, and activities understandable at a range of levels. Attitudes: There will be RVC staff at each event, to offer visitors the chance to make personal connections with veterinary professionals and scientists and form positive attitudes. Staff would be briefed on effective and positive public engagement. Knowledge: Visitors will be able to learn about physiology and research at RVC through research stands, demonstrations and shows, as well as thinking about the creative links by visiting our anatomy museum and meeting artists 5
2.3 Staff
The following staff were involved in the event, in addition to the RVC Access Team; Angela Poole and Chris Kench provided support before the evening. Activity
Staff
Reception
Katie Clarke, RVC ambassador Louise Martin, RVC ambassador Tim Pond, artist David Grant, Search Press publishing Humayra Chowdhury, RVC ambassador Dr Rowena Packer- RVC Animal Welfare Science and Ethics Sarah Hobbs- RVC Animal Welfare Science and Ethics Fiona Dale- RVC Animal Welfare Science and Ethics Alex Davies, RVC Ambassador
Art and Anatomy Museum Collies and Cortisol
Students and teacher from St Mary Magdalene Academy at our Art anatomy activity
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Activity
Staff
Student Equine Veterinary Association
Kier Davis – RVC student Alice Ritchie- RVC student Natasha Alia Roslan- RVC student Louise Samuel Napier- RVC Ambassador Paul Christian- RVC Farm Manager Charlotte Verity- RVC Farm staff Georgina Miller- RVC Ambassador Toby Allcock- RVC Ambassador
Bolton’s Park Farm
RVC ambassadors Louise and Steph demonstrating Ultrasound as part of the SEVA stand, to a Sutton Trust Summer school student
SEVA, organised by by Louise Samuel Napier
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Activity Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital
QMH Blood Transfusion Service
RVC Access/ Campus Tours
Staff Dr Paul Pollard- BSAH Head Vet Abi Edis- BSAH Vet Nurse Molly Rogerson- BSAH Vet Nurse Ines Huc- RVC Ambassador Dr Karen Humm- QMH Emergency and Critical Care Suzanne Hunt- QMH Transfusion Vet Nurse Lucie Stratton- RVC ambassador Mahnoor Khan- RVC Ambassador Jon Parry- Head of Widening Participation Gorprit Singh- RVC Ambassador Sioned Donovan- RVC Ambassador Sophie Macintosh- RVC Ambassador
Molly Rogerson, Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital Vet Nurse, explaining Cat Friendly Clinics Iolight Microscopes Animal Care Trust
Dogs for Good Animal Behaviour
Richard Williams, Director Iolight Microscopes Claire Reynolds- ACT Community Events and Fundraising Officer Louise Martin- RVC Ambassador Hayley Stimpson- Development Adviser, DFG Mary Offutt, RVC Ambassador Jade Raffles, RVC Research student Natalie Chancellor, RVC Research technician Lauren Kirby, RVC Ambassador
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Activity London Bioscience Innovation Centre
Pets As Therapy
Student Wellbeing at RVC Teen Vet Club Natural History in 100 Objects Photography Catering Security Music and social media Assistant Co-ordinator Co-ordinator
Staff Janette Pickles- LBIC Operations Manager Lucy Garnsworthy- LBIC Communications Manager Roger New- Director, Proxima Concepts Anne Clilverd- Chair, Pets As Therapy Laura Scowen- RVC Ambassador Stephanie Stapleton- RVC Ambassador Sophie Pullen- RVC Learning Development Officer Jack Fawsitt- RVC SU Wellbeing Rep Saffron Dholakia- RVC Ambassador Aaron Cook- RVC Ambassador Jack Ashby- Grant Museum Manager, UCL Oliver Siddons, RVC student Camden catering team Winston Edwards and team Richard Evans, RVC International Recruitment Lucy Eckersley- RVC Outreach Assistant Dr Grace Mackintosh Sim, Outreach Manager
Janette and Lucy from the London Biosciences Innovation Centre!
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2.4 Advertising The event was advertised via the Press association therefore listings appeared in the Evening Standard What’s on guide, Time Out, and via Twitter and Facebook, the Society of Biology and the Physiological Society tweeted about the event. Eventbrite was used to manage bookings. This had the advantage that adverts were also generated to Eventbrite members. The service is free of charge and allows attendees to be emailed by the event co-ordinator. Education contacts were emailed, and alumni were sent news of the event. In addition, we emailed course leaders of biological sciences courses at a range of universities, and encouraged them to send students. We also advertised via our hub contacts such as the Knowledge Quarter, and free London visit blogger sites.
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2.5 Booking tickets Tickets were booked via Eventbrite. The chart below shows the ticket booking progress across 3 months prior to the event. Daily page view spikes correspond with social media posts about the event.
16% of tickets were booked through Eventbrite links; this means that people who booked tickets were not specifically searching for the RVC or our event, however became aware of the event because it shared tags that they are interested in (such as science, biology, animals).
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3. Event 3.1 Programme The table below shows the lectures and demonstrations which took place. Lecture
Staff
Trust Me I’m a Vet 6-6.30pm Dissection 7-8pm
Judy Puddifoot- RVC Alumni Lucy Eckersley- RVC Access Outreach Assistant Andrew Crook- RVC Head of Anatomy Services Sarah Nicoll- RVC Departmental Technician Brian Cox- Multimedia Developer Oliver Dunham- RVC Ambassador Shafina Khatum- Anatomy assistant Richard Evans- RVC Access International recruitment Leanne MacNamara- RVC Ambassador Dr Stuart Patterson- WAB Lecturer Dr Maria Diez-Leon- Lecturer in Animal Welfare Ines Huc- RVC Ambassador
Wildlife and Welfare 8.30-9pm Pub Quiz 9.15-9.45pm
Dissection event in the Anatomy Lecture Theatre. It is also streamed to the Great Hall, giving a total capacity of 300 for the dissection.
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Event Descriptions:
Trust Me I’m a Vet Lecture with Judy Puddifoot
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3. Event 3.2 Activities The map below shows the activities on the night.
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Richard Williams of Iolight explaining digital microscopes
4. Impact 4.1 Public Public impact will be considered under the following questions, in order to characterise the audience and provide information on which to decide future public engagement event planning.
• Who was there? • Where had they come from? • Why were they there? • What did they do? • What did they think of it?
• How did it change their attitudes?
Collies and Cortisol stand
Methods Visitor responses to the event were gathered using two methods, with a range of closed and open question types:
a)
A postcard survey on exiting the event. This survey was designed to gather demographic information and to give space for open responses to three questions; the event highlight, recommendations for improvement, and what surprised visitors about the event. Answers provided formative information about how to improve the event, and summative information about the novel aspects. 53 postcards were completed.
b)
An online survey sent to all attendees further explored how the event had met aims. Further demographic information was collected. 41 surveys have been completed to date (6.12.2017).
Qualitative and quantitative data will be presented to demonstrate progress compared to previous events, and to show the extent to which the event aims have been successfully met. 15
4.1.1 Who was there? The following data are results from questions which were asked using the postcard exit survey, n=53.
769 tickets were booked for the event, and 88% attended New audiences
46.3% of visitors who responded to the e survey had never visited RVC before.
Visitor age groups (%) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 11 to 17
-25
-35
-45
-55
-65
-75
-85
The majority of visitors were 18-25, with the next most common being 11-17. We think this is because we advertised to university students and via our Teen Vet Club. The audience was overall younger than previously.
Dissection event streamed to the Great Hall
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4.1.1 Who was there? The following data are results from questions which were asked using the postcard exit survey, n=53.
Occupations
The largest sector of Night at the Vet College were students. Based on feedback from previous events, we had promoted the event to RVC and University of London students as it was recognised that the content is ideal for a range of biomedical sciences students. We hope that raising awareness of RVC amongst undergraduates will increase the perception of RVC as a postgraduate study option. There were large groups in attendance from schools, for example St Mary Magdalene and Harper Adams College. In addition, current students used the event to invite prospective students from their old schools.
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4.1.2 Where had they come from? Event Reach The event had a wider reach than in previous years, with UK and International visitors.
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4.1.3 Why were they there?
The postcard exit survey asked visitors: what was your main reason for attending the event? This question allows visitors to be grouped by their aims for the evening. In November 2013 we found that visitors could be grouped into those who were: 1. RVC connections Alumni or former employees, or people whose family work or study there wanted to see the site, see if there were any changes, remember being there, and to find out about what their family do all day! 2. Science supporters Some people who work in related industries such as biomedical research wanted an insight into latest research at RVC. They might be scientists, or teachers looking for subject enrichment or career information for their pupils.
Georgina and Toby, RVC students, explaining Boltons Park Farm
3. Curious public Public who did not have connections with RVC were attracted by the unique opportunity to see dissections, and the fact that it is a free event and a new experience. In 2014 we added the following two categories: 4. Fun seekers People who wanted to enjoy themselves by going somewhere new and doing activities. 5. Prospective students Young people who had found out about the event through their colleges or secondary schools. Over 16 year olds attended in groups, some accompanied by teachers, In November 2017 we attracted a greater number of
prospective students, due to our advertising via the Teen Vet Club (a new initiative started in 2017).
RVC student Steph and a visitor at the Pets as Therapy stand
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4.1.4 How did they find out about the event? Direct email or email lists were the most frequently stated method of hearing about Night at the Vet College. This includes our Teen Vet club members, Physiological society members, and email lists such as the Public Science Communication JISC list, PSCI COMM. Areas to improve on are advertising via the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital or other vet surgeries, and our Alumni and community network.
How did you find out about NAVC? (%) Email (Teen Vet Club/PSCI COMM/Phys soc) RVC website Twitter/facebook Online/blog School/college/university Friend/family RVC student/staff Previous events (NAVC/Art) Eventbrite 0
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Natalie Chancellor, Animal Welfare Research technician and RVC student Lauren with visitors at the Animal Welfare stand
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4.1.5 What did visitors think of Night at the Vet College?
Overall, how would you rate Night at the Vet College? Where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent, Night at the Vet College received the rating 4.68 on average (n= 43, e-survey respondents). This improves on our previous event, where the rating was 4.57.
100% would recommend Night at the Vet College to a friend, the same as last time. Did you learn any new skills? Ultrasound and art anatomy were frequently reported skills, as well as skills mentioned in the quotes?
Yes, practicing how to determine whether a mare is pregnant or not
I learnt more about how to detect dog's behaviours and emotions .
My daughter gave a "horse" an internal exam and found a pulse on a dog!
Tim Pond’s anatomy art at in the Camden Anatomy Museum. Visitors were able to try out drawing and sketching on the night.
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4.1.5 What did visitors think of Night at the Vet College? Did you find out any new facts or information at the events? • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Yes - the magnet placed in the cow's 2nd stomach to prevent wires piercing it Yes - lots about the Dog anatomy from Andrew's dissection! Pet Therapy, fundraising for RVC a bit about the gateway programme and lots of facts about animal anatomy I learnt a lot about anatomy through the dissection and about plastination Yes, I learnt lots of interesting new facts from the stands and events- they were all very informative Yes, entrance procedures How turtle retain water in their body and the ferret's behaviour. I discovered that any dog can have a transfusion of any bloody type as a one off emergency and then any following that first transfusion must be blood type matched Yes. Guinea Pig and Dog behaviour I found out about animal blood donations, and different volunteering opportunities Yes- that there are a variety of routes into veterinary That dogs and cats can be blood donors Yes. I found out more about understanding dog body language. I also learnt more about what it would be like to study at the RVC and about the kinds of skills and learning that goes on at the university Yes, tortoises like to climb! Yes! Absolutely, I always go from the RVC events knowing far more than when I came in and full of new ideas for my own work. I enjoy getting to talk to vets as a Taxidermist because they come at the same concepts (Dissection, skinning etc) from a different angle to me and I always learn something that I can take away from just chatting to the students let alone the stall holders.
Author and Manager of the UCL Grant Museum of Zoology, Jack Ashby, showing visitors specimens from his book ‘Natural History in 100 Objects’
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4.1.5 What did visitors think of Night at the Vet College? (continued) Event Highlight
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Dissection x 28 “amazing experience” Tim Pond x 3 Trust me im a vet x 3 speaking to students/staff/researchers x5 very informative x 2 + fascinating/ intuituve Everything x 2 Tour x 2 Opening the ribcage and learning what was where access to museum Ultrasound seeing the labs Dog Behaviour Stand Variety of information provided All the dogs Getting to see the dog in person after dissection
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4.1.5 What did visitors think of Night at the Vet College? (continued) Recommendations for improvement • • • • • • • • •
More dogs x 2 N/A it was amazing Longer time in dissection x 2 None x 10 + “very good night”/”it was all good/I loved it” Stretch time - not long enough to see everything Signage x 3 More lectures like brilliant Judy Puddifoot Age More dogs
Animal Care Trust stand
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4.1.6 How did Night at the Vet College change visitor attitudes? Will you do anything differently in future as a result of visiting Night at the Vet College? 51% said they found out about Career Choices • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
be more aware of animal welfare Signed up for teen vet club, contact RVC about fundraising "Friendly visits" in my practice I have learnt more about the importance of varied work experience I was given some very helpful revision tips at the wellbeing stand which I will implement to use in my studies Helps preparing for vet school Help raise awareness on animal care and conservation More interested to learn about animals Further looking into postgraduate entry veterinary medicine Look more at our dogs signs from Yawning to licking lips that she may be getting unhappy. Not really - will definitely attend again. it has made me more dedicated to becoming a vet and has made me want to work harder at my a levels Yes - I am much more aware about flat faced breeds of dogs so will talk to friends and family about this to raise awareness. Also will consider donating pets blood. Yes my advice to students who may not have the standard level 3 quals Will make my future pets available to be blood donors Talk to my students about this evening increase interactive lectures. Make sure I bring friends! I will look more into studying veterinary at the RVC General interest I would spend more time at each stall What I gained from this event was mostly I learned about how dogs show stress
Animal Welfare
Anatomy Museum
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4.2 Staff Data based on responses to an online survey.
What did you enjoy about being part of the event? • • •
• • • • • • • •
The opportunity to discuss my research project with a whole range of people from different scientific/ scientific backgrounds and get feedback on what they found interesting. The atmosphere was great and the dissection was incredible- what a character Andrew is :) I love talking to prospective students about their future aspirations and answering their questions on my experience with applying to vet school and the requirements the RVC lays out. I also liked being able to network with other stands at the event. Really great atmosphere, and very rewarding to interact with the general public and prospective students Teaching people about what Bolton’s Park Farm has to offer to present and future students. Really enjoyed the variety of stations There was a great variety of people which is always good fun. Everyone was very friendly and helpful Simply being part of the evening and meeting lots of different people Opportunity to catch up with current students and find out how they are getting on. Interesting to chat to A level and GCSE students... no real study techniques I really enjoyed working the event, and hope to do more in the future :) The student ambassadors were fantastic as always. The brief at the beginning was good, having everyone explain their stalls. It was a nice event with a lovely feel to it.
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4.1.5 Staff feedback
What did you find out through taking part? •
•
• • • • • • • •
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I was recommended by a Vet nurse about a specific funding award that you can apply to for animal welfare research so I may look into this. I also had a fantastic 6 form student chat to me at my stall who recommended me an interesting book about evolutionary genetics. I learnt about Teen Vet Club which sounds very exciting, learnt all about the insides of a retriever! I also had a look in the museum which was fascinating with all the dissected animals in there. I also really appreciated Louise helping my stand and she may be able to get me help with cadets in the future :) Although we didn't sell much I still enjoyed the event. I learnt about the new ideas vet schools are implementing with their admissions process (Bristol no longer interviews and Liverpool has dropped 10 weeks work experience down to 6) I learned a bit more about LBIC, also met new colleagues and interacted with prospective students and their parents (so I got to understand what their needs and expectations are a bit better) I learnt that I need to read up on my livestock feedstuffs! I met a couple of contacts who may be of use to ioLight Lots! particularly from Judy's presentation and staff from Beaumont Awareness of lack of study skills provision in schools. Was interesting to meet Kyro Brooks from young Camden foundation - who may get in touch.... he may like us to deliver some study skills sessions. One visitor was talking to me about his struggle with depression and how that is linked to my study on animal boredom which was great to have people opening up and talking about these themes. I was positively surprised that the first few answers from the audience to the question 'what is animal welfare' had to do with animals' subjective experience and ability to perform natural behaviours (rather than simply lack of disease, as used to be what typically came to mind first) There was one young visitor, school age, maybe 15? who already knew all about arthritis and how it affects cartilage. This was really impressive!
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5. Operational Improvements and theme recommendations • • • • • • • • • • • •
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It would be great if next time the staff could also watch the dissection event Have an ability to find someone who can help us answer questions we don't know the answers to, quickly Possibly another few short lectures/talks such as the zoo welfare talk. Could be in sessions to work around the dissection. I think next time we should work through how the microscopes fit in to the whole event in a more integrated manner. Improved map Encourage visitors to bring cash to buy ACT items and books from stands Make clear in the briefing how the map links to the stands Make more clear in the briefing that staff are responsible for going to get dinner at the time suggested Possible way to improve communication between lightwell and dissection room? Have the ACT stand on ground level Maybe some more information about how to answer sensitive topic questions on animal research/policies might be helpful although I did not get any difficult questions on the night. organise one on specifically Wild Animal Wellbeing in the future? ZSL coincidentally had a welfare night of talks yesterday as well, so maybe in the future we could join the events and/or could be a platform to showcase all the the wild animal health, behaviour and welfare programmes that the RVC has? (e.g. MSc WAB/WAH, but MSc One Health would also be relevant) (NB We did collaborate with ZSL to ensure these events did not clash on the same night, and we did invite collaboration from ZSL, we can continue to develop this) Maybe an evening focusing on ethical issues surrounding veterinary medicine ? After working a few events, the public have very different opinions and misconceptions about what the RVC offer, so maybe an evening/ event just addressing these? I wonder if some kind of mini workshop for GCSE and A level student re study techniques...?
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6 Conclusions Night at the Vet College: Wellbeing! delivered the intended objectives for 769 booked visitors to take part in activities with the following learning opportunities: • • •
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Skills: Provided 16 stands which include hands-on elements for visitors to develop new skills or practice existing skills. Place: Offered tours of the RVC site in addition to making use of our lightwell and dissection areas, to showcase the resources at RVC. Emotion: Delivered one dissection shown in two rooms and two lectures. We worked with Student Ambassadors and researchers to make the atmosphere welcoming and friendly, and activities were understandable at a range of levels. Attitudes: RVC staff offered visitors the chance to make personal connections with veterinary professionals and form positive attitudes. Staff were briefed on effective and positive public engagement. Knowledge: Visitors learnt about wellbeing and stress in humans and animals through the research at RVC and related organisations by visiting stands, demonstrations and shows, as well as thinking about the creative links by visiting our anatomy museum and meeting artists.
The strength of the event lies in the collaboration both outside and within RVC. We were extremely grateful for the involvement of partner and supporting organisations, who assisted both on the night and in marketing the event. Within RVC the event gained momentum though not only those regularly involved with Public Engagement but with additional departments who volunteered such as research staff and students. With grateful thanks to all involved. We hope to hold a Spring Event to coincide with National Science and Engineering Week’s 2018 campaign (March 9th- 18th) subject to funding.
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