Review of Deiric O’Brion and Mary P. Murphy, Eds., Politics Participation and Power: Civil Society and Public Policy in Ireland, Glasnevin Publishing: Dublin, 2013

Emma McKenna has 20+ years experience of research across different sectors. After completing her PhD in Sociology, she worked as a researcher in the community sector, looking at the size and scope of the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action as part of a UK-wide research project, then working for a women’s network developing research and policy. In 2001 she moved to Queen’s University Belfast’s Science Shop, where she works on community based research projects which meet community needs, alongside academic staff and students. Around 60 projects are completed annually by 200+ students. She has also researched and supported public engagement internationally, and has mentored new Science Shops across the UK and Ireland and in Canada, France and Norway. She has co-written and presented a range of reports and articles examining the role of Science Shops as a public engagement mechanism and the importance of policy development to underpin university-community engagement. She also delivers training on Science Shop practice internationally and training on public engagement to both staff and postgraduate students within the university. She is currently involved in the Public Engagement in Research and Research Engagement in Society (PERARES) European-Commission funded Science Shop project.