‘Emergency Poet’ Deborah Alma, who is a Lecturer and Honorary Research Fellow in Creative Writing at Keele University, has won the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement photo competition 2018.

The “Engagement” category in which Deborah won included images that capture a diverse range of public engagement activities. One of the category judges, Ed Stevens - Deputy Head of Public Engagement at the University of Bath - explained:

“The Engagement category provided a heartening reminder of the sheer diversity of public engagement with research projects out there. Our winning and commended entries all demonstrated meaningful and creative ways to involve people in and with research.”

As the Emergency Poet, Deborah offers consultations inside her vintage ambulance, prescribing poems as cures. Deborah’s submission, ‘Poetry on Prescription: The Emergency Poet’, pictures her standing next to her 1970s ambulance.

Speaking about her win, Deborah said:

“I’m surprised and delighted to have won this competition. The judges’ comments were so generous and encouraging! It makes driving a slow, heavy, vintage ambulance, with no power steering, all over the country worthwhile!”

Deborah’s entry was commended on its ability to capture attention and spark curiosity; it embodied the creativity and skill that lies in public engagement, finding an authentic and meaningful way to engage people personally through the concept of poetry as medicine.