![Sarah Hatch](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/7612?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Overview
My role is to support, develop and deliver high quality public engagement with research activity (Superbugs), public involvement in research and teaching activity and civic mission initiatives of benefit to communities. A further important aspect of my role is to drive initiatives that firmly embed public engagement and involvement within the culture of the School of Medicine.
To find out a bit more about what public involvement in research is please watch the following short film here.
To learn more about what public involvement in teaching please watch the following short film here.
The School's Science in Health programme is aimed at engaging school pupils in the research we do in such a way as to inspire, generate positive dialogue with scientists and open up a range of possible scientific and medical careers to the next generation of talent. The Science in Health Public Lecture series also gives us the opportunity to open up for discussion areas of concern in healthcare and present new research on health issues to the public.
To find out more about the work of the School of Medicine Public Invovlement and Engagement team, please visit the following web pages:
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/medicine/about-us/engagement
Publication
2026
- Ogbukagu, C. M. et al., 2026. Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: A UK-based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents. Immunology & Cell Biology (10.1111/imcb.70079)
2025
- Eberl, M. et al. 2025. Supporting meaningful public involvement and engagement in health research: a call for feedback on unsuccessful grant proposals. Research Involvement and Engagement 11 145. (10.1186/s40900-025-00813-0)
2024
- Hatch, S. et al. 2024. The Life Sciences Challenge: delivering an all-Wales bilingual inter-school competition for over 10 years and throughout a global pandemic. Research for All 8 (1)(10.14324/rfa.08.1.10)
- Nollett, C. et al. 2024. Public involvement and engagement in scientific research and higher education: The only way is ethics?. Research Involvement and Engagement 10 (1) 50. (10.1186/s40900-024-00587-x)
- Tyrrell, J. M. et al., 2024. Combining postgraduate research training, public engagement and primary school science education - A Superbugs Master (MSc) class. Frontiers in Microbiology (10.3389/fmicb.2024.1380045)
- Hatch, S. et al. 2024. Diversity in patient and public involvement in healthcare research and education—Realising the potential. Health Expectations 27 (1) e13896. (10.1111/hex.13896)
- Tyrrell, J. et al., 2024. Superbugs online: co-production of an educational website to increase public understanding of the microbial world in, on and around us. Frontiers in Microbiology 15 1340350. (10.3389/fmicb.2024.1340350)
2023
- Eberl, M. et al. 2023. Overcoming the disconnect between scientific research and the public. Immunology and Cell Biology 101 (7), pp.590-597. (10.1111/imcb.12657)
2022
- Tyrrell, J. M. et al., 2022. 'Superbugs': raising public awareness of antimicrobial resistance through a pop-up science shop. Research for All 6 (1), pp.1-21. (10.14324/RFA.06.1.06)
Articles
- Ogbukagu, C. M. et al., 2026. Benefits of public engagement in research and barriers to participation: A UK-based survey of academic scientists and support staff including international respondents. Immunology & Cell Biology (10.1111/imcb.70079)
- Eberl, M. et al. 2025. Supporting meaningful public involvement and engagement in health research: a call for feedback on unsuccessful grant proposals. Research Involvement and Engagement 11 145. (10.1186/s40900-025-00813-0)
- Hatch, S. et al. 2024. The Life Sciences Challenge: delivering an all-Wales bilingual inter-school competition for over 10 years and throughout a global pandemic. Research for All 8 (1)(10.14324/rfa.08.1.10)
- Nollett, C. et al. 2024. Public involvement and engagement in scientific research and higher education: The only way is ethics?. Research Involvement and Engagement 10 (1) 50. (10.1186/s40900-024-00587-x)
- Tyrrell, J. M. et al., 2024. Combining postgraduate research training, public engagement and primary school science education - A Superbugs Master (MSc) class. Frontiers in Microbiology (10.3389/fmicb.2024.1380045)
- Hatch, S. et al. 2024. Diversity in patient and public involvement in healthcare research and education—Realising the potential. Health Expectations 27 (1) e13896. (10.1111/hex.13896)
- Tyrrell, J. et al., 2024. Superbugs online: co-production of an educational website to increase public understanding of the microbial world in, on and around us. Frontiers in Microbiology 15 1340350. (10.3389/fmicb.2024.1340350)
- Eberl, M. et al. 2023. Overcoming the disconnect between scientific research and the public. Immunology and Cell Biology 101 (7), pp.590-597. (10.1111/imcb.12657)
- Tyrrell, J. M. et al., 2022. 'Superbugs': raising public awareness of antimicrobial resistance through a pop-up science shop. Research for All 6 (1), pp.1-21. (10.14324/RFA.06.1.06)
Biography
2016 - to present. Public Involvement and Engagement Manager, Cardiff University School of Medicine
2010 - 2016. Innovation and Engagement Manager, Cardiff University School of Medicine
2002 - 2010 - Manager of the Cardiff Institute of Tissue Engineering and Repair (CITER), Cardiff University
2000 - 2002 - Political Assistant to Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan MEP
1999 - 2000 - Stagiaire at the Directorate General Research, European Commission – Brussels, Belgium
1998 - World travel
1997 - LLB Honours European Law and French
Engagement
I have a passion for public engagement and involvement that was borne as soon as I joined the University as a member of staff in 2002. Working with scientists, and being from a non-scientific background myself, I understood early on the value of delivering quality public engagement with research and the wide range of benefits that this brings to all stakeholders involved in the engagement process. In addition, over the last five years 'involving' members of the public in research and teaching has also become a priority for research funders and the regulators of our taught curricula.
In my role, I work with colleagues across the School of Medicine and the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences to embed public engagement with research and public involvement with research and teaching. A key aim of my work has been to try and build the critical mass of members of staff and postgraduade stduents that engage and involve members of the public in research and/or teaching, creating a supportive environment that facilitates the sharing of best practice, resources, guidance as well as avoiding any duplication of activity.
A PPIE Committee representing all areas of the School of Medicine was established in 2024. A 5-year Action Plan is in place to help us to embed Public Engagement and Involvement into the culture of the School. This plan closely aligns to the UK Standards for Public Involvement and elements of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement EDGE tool to support and improve the quality and consistency of this increasingly important area of work, and its impact on our core business.
The MEDIC PPIE team consists of:
- Academic Lead for Public Engagement, Professor Matthias Eberl
- Academic Lead for Public Involvement, (position currently vacant);
- Science in Health co-lead Dr Elaine Dunlop
- Science in Health co-lead Dr Naledi Formosa
- Sarah Peddle, Lead Public Contributor
- Sienna Mae-Yates, Lead Public Contributor
- Administration support, Cat Williams and Jacky Pemberton.
Since early 2026, the PPIE team and PPIE Committee works closely wtih the Innovation and Impact Committee and the Director for Impact, Dr Natalie Joseph-Williams.
Work Highlights:
- MEDIC PPIE Network - peer support network for staff and postgraduate students that meets bimonthly to share best practice and discuss opportunities and challenges in the field of PPIE.
- Development and delivery of Science in Health Schools Engagement Programme Science in Health - School of Medicine - Cardiff University
- Development of tailored PPIE resources including the co-leadership of a co-produced online PPIE training resource for College of Biomedical and Life Sciences staff and students.
- Development of PPIE policy including payments policy
- Problem solver for PPIE issues and challenges
- Champion of PPIE professional service roles
Welcome to our one stop shop Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Training Programme and Resource Hub which has been developed to meet all your PPIE needs.
Watch this introductory video about the training programme and resource to find out more: Launch Video for PPIE Training Programme and Resource Hub
What to expect:
- 7 training modules and resources tailored to support roles across the College of Biomedical Life Sciences.
Content for all career pathways (researchers, educators, professional service staff and post graduate research students - supported by the modular format
Step-by-step guidance, practical templates, and toolkits
Inspiring Learning Case Studies and examples from across the CBLS (currently featuring 50+ case studies) and an opportunity to submit your own
Opportunities to connect with others and share best practice
If you are interested in finding out more about my role, the work of the Public Involvement and Engagement team at Cardiff School of Medicine and the online PPIE training resource please do not hesitate to contact me.