ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Public engagement

Public engagement is when grown-ups like city officials, teachers, or even scientists talk to regular people like you and me about important things that affect our lives.

Imagine your teacher asks you to help decorate your classroom. She first asks everyone what kind of decorations they would prefer, so she can get an idea of what everyone likes. This is an example of public engagement because the teacher is asking the public (you and your classmates) for their opinions and ideas.

The grown-ups often use different ways to engage with the public, like asking questions online or holding meetings in your neighborhood. They want to hear what everyone thinks and feels about certain things so they can make good decisions that affect everyone.

For example, city officials might want to make a new park in your town, but before they do, they want to hear from everyone in the community, including you and your family. They want to hear what you would like to see in the park, what kind of equipment you would like to play on, and what activities you would like to do there.

Public engagement is important because it helps everyone feel like they have a say in what happens in their communities. It also helps the grown-ups make better decisions because they have heard from everyone and can take all the different opinions and ideas into account.