For those not immersed in it every day, the world of research can seem dauntingly distant. At Research Outreach, we are committed to closing that gap. We want to open up the research community so that readers around the world can understand the value of the work being carried out in diverse subject areas.

Whether you are interested in Physical Sciences, Education & Training, Engineering & Technology or Biology, this issue of Research Outreach will have plenty to interest you. In addition to detailed articles on research projects, we also hear from the scientists themselves, to gain an insight into the people behind the research.

We speak to Professor Laurent Keller from the European Society for Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) about all things evolution as well as his experience as president of the society. The ESEB has approximately 1,400 members who it supports through a networking platform, conferences, funding and two journals.

It was a pleasure to work on this issue and we hope that you enjoy reading it.