The Incredible Human Journey - Twilight Talk

The Incredible Human Journey - Who are we and where do we come from?

23 November 2009, 6pm - 7.30pm

Venue: Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, BS8 1RJ

Dr Alice Roberts tracks the ancient migrations that took our ancestors to the corners of Earth; through stones, bones and genes, the story of our incredible human journey unfolds.

For bookings contact Margery Lever, tel: +44 (0)117 331 8313, email: margery.lever@bristol.ac.uk

web: bristol.ac.uk/cms/cpe/outreach/talks.html

Born too early? Two-way talk

Born too early? Pre-term birth and hormones in the womb - a scientist's view.

15 December 2009, 6pm - 7.30pm

Venue Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street, BS1 5JG

Pre-term birth is a traumatic occurrence and the costs to both society and the NHS are high. Presenting research funded by the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Jennie Douthwaite opens up the doors to the laboratory and provides an insight into the research on this important issue. Come along for the chance to hear a lab scientist's take on the study of hormones involved in pre-term labour.

For bookings, contact Margery Lever, tel: +44 (0)117 331 8313, email: margery.lever@bristol.ac.uk

web: bristol.ac.uk/cms/cpe/outreach/talks.html

Engagers digest

Dear all,

This will be my last Engagers digest, as I'm off upstairs to the Campaigns and Alumni Relations office. Philippa will be back as your Academic Liaison Officer from next Monday. Thanks to everyone for making my time at the CPE thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm sure I'll see plenty of you in future.

Best wishes,
Barry

EPSRC Senior Media Fellowships and Partnerships for Public Engagement. Deadlines 11 November and 10 December 2009.
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has calls open for its Partnerships for Public Engagement (deadline 11 November 2009)and Senior Media Fellowships (deadline 10 December 2009).

Public engagement studentship at the Darwin Centre. Deadline 30 December 2009
King's College London and the Natural History Museum are sponsoring a collaborative PhD studentship at the new Darwin Centre on an aspect of public engagement with science.

Science communication masterclass at UWE. 22-26 February 2010
Register for UWE's Science Communication Unit's next science communication masterclass by 21 December 2009. The week-long course costs £650 (£500 concessions) and takes place at Explore-At-Bristol.

Image: Rajiv Ashrafi

Who's watching you? Two-way talk, 28 October

The Centre for Public Engagement is organising a talk about social networking. Andrew Charlesworth from the School of Law will tell you all about the darker side of this, where personal information posted online can be accessed not only by friends and family, but also by employers, the authorities and others beyond personal control. Do you really want your boss to get such a personal lowdown on you? It's time for a rethink! Come along to the discussion to find out more.

The event is free, but booking is required, contact Margery Lever; tel: +44 (0)117 331 8313 or email: margery.lever@bristol.ac.uk

bristol.ac.uk/cms/cpe/outreach/talks.html

Engagers digest

Welcome to another Engagers digest, featuring opportunities for funding, placements and a PhD studentship.

Read the latest Public Engagement Stories

• Think global, buy local
• Reflecting on engagement
• Sharing volunteering expertise
• Volunteering as a school governor
• Free Cube

RCUK National Science and Engineering Week Awards. Deadline 2 November 2009
Just a reminder that the deadline for applications to put on an activity during National Science and Engineering Week (12-21 March 2010) is in a couple of weeks. If you'd like help with putting an application together, please contact Barry Parsons.

ESRC Third Sector Placement. Deadline 10 November 2009
ESRC are inviting applications for social science researchers to undertake a 1-3 month placement with a third sector organisation. Placements are expected to start in January-February 2010 and be part-funded by the third sector organisation. For more details see the call for applications.

New round for STEM Directories now open. Deadline 11 November 2009
If you haven't already done so, you can register online for the STEM Directories, an online guide to enrichment activities for schools.

PhD studentship in science communication. Deadline 12 November 2009
The University of the West of England is offering a PhD studentship in an aspect of science communication, to start in January 2010. Visit their website for more information and application details.

Is England's Past for Everyone?

Last Friday I visited a conference called Is England's Past for Everyone? Learning and Outreach in the Historic Environment. The conference was organised by England's Past for Everyone, a Lottery-funded local history project run by the Victoria County History.

The theme of the conference was how to involve communities in their local history, through publishing, online resources, volunteering and working with schools. The keynote address was delivered by Baroness Andrews, the new head of English Heritage, who spoke about projects to engage local communities with their industrial and natural heritage, and endorsed the conference's theme that "history belongs to local people".

Other speakers discussed the challenges and opportunities posed to local history publishing by new media; and developing online resources including English Heritage's ViewFinder online image library.

The highlight for me was a guided walk around central Bristol led by Andy Foyle, author of the Pevsner guide to Bristol, learning both about its architectural heritage and some local victims of the Blitz. It was a poignant reminder that history is inseparable from people's lives.

Image: Crown Copyright NMR

Engagers digest

Welcome to another Engagers digest, this one featuring opportunities for student volunteering, arts collaborations, influencing the future of public engagement and running an event at the prestigious Dana Centre, amongst other things.

vinspired students Pilot Fund. Deadline 14 October 2009
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and v, the young people's volunteering charity, have launched a pilot fund to explore innovative student volunteering. Grants are available up to £10,000 and the closing date is 14 October. Visit the NCCPE's website for more information.

Festival of Nature Director. Deadline 24 October 2009
The Bristol Natural History Consortium is seeking to appoint a Director for the Festival of Nature, Bristol's celebration of the natural world. Check their website for more information.

AHRC collaborative and partnership working workshop. 5 November 2009
The AHRC will host a workshop on collaborative and partnership working with commercial partners and the cultural and heritage sectors at Paintworks in Bristol from 11 am to 5 pm on 5 November.

National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement Open House. 25 November 2009
The NCCPE is holding an Open House at its offices in the Watershed, Bristol, from 11 am to 4 pm. There will be presentations from Paul Younger (Newcastle University), Gerry Kelleher (MMU) and Kathy Sykes (University of Bristol), and case studies from the Beacons for Public Engagement. To register your interest, e-mail NCCPE Enquiries. For more news and events from the NCCPE, visit their news page.

Run an event at the Dana Centre
The Science Museum's Dana Centre in London is giving people the opportunity to run an event for ages 16+ about science, technology, medicine, design or enterprise, with a free venue and technical support.

NCCPE draft framework for public engagement
Have your say on the NCCPE's draft framework for public engagement, which aims to describe what public engagement is, how and why universities do it, and how its impact can be measured. You can read the document and comment on their website, or through an online survey.

Impact! World
EPSRC has launched Impact! World, a new website featuring films and case studies showing the ways that EPSRC-funded research is helping build the world around us.

National Science and Engineering Week/ESRC Festival of Social Science
Finally, a reminder that applications for funding of up to £2,000 to run an event for National Science and Engineering Week or the ESRC Festival of Social Science (both 12-21 March 2009) close on 2 November and 9 October respectively.