Engagers' Digest - 22/4/10

Dear all,

Welcome to another, sunny, edition of the Digest.

1. Engage 2010 - 23 September 2010
At this year's conference we are planning a public engagement marketplace between 12-2pm where both internal and external groups and organisations will be able to share their activities, resources and experiences, and recruit participants. We can provide a table and poster board to display materials; please let me know by 30 May if you would like a spot.

2. Arts and Humanities Research Council/NCCPE event - 16 June, London
Public interest in the arts and humanities has never been greater. But how can academics, researchers and professionals in the arts and humanities and the wider cultural sector grasp the opportunities presented by this enthusiasm? How can their work truly engage the public - for the benefit of themselves, their students, their organisations, and that of the public itself? This event (16 June, 10am-4pm, Glaziers Hall, London) will take this question as its starting point and examine both the strategic and the practical challenges facing those working in the arts and humanities. More information here; click here to register or contact Sophie Duncan at NCCPE.

3. Nuffield Foundation's Social Science Small Grants Scheme - deadline end 2010
Grants of up to £15,000 are available for postdoctoral research projects in line with the Foundation's areas of interest. More here

4. Royal Society Partnership Grants - deadline 5 November 2010
Grants of up to £3000 are available to support teachers, scientists and engineers to develop science projects. More here

Useful publications
RCUK have launched a series of useful publications, including:
Public Engagement with Research Strategy Light (PDF 137kB) details RCUK's Vision for public engagement, and their three strategic aims
What's in it for me? The benefits of Public Engagement for Researchers (PDF, 1014kB) explores the many benefits of public engagement which include enhancing the quality and impact of the research, personal enjoyment and fulfilment, and accessing additional funding
Engaging Young People with Cutting Edge Research (PDF 950kB) is a guide for researchers and teachers and highlights some of the opportunities for working together

Best wishes,

Philippa

Festival of Ideas - science events

Have you seen the line-up of exciting events planned for May's Festival of Ideas?

The Festival begins with Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation, and continues with talks from the Bristol Heart Institute, Ben Goldacre and many more:

http://www.ideasfestival.co.uk/wp-content/themes/ad-clerum-10/e-news/e_flyer_science_events_10.html

Engagers' Digest - 8/4/10

Dear all,

Welcome back after the Easter break. As we head into the summer term I thought it might be worth re-capping some of the important upcoming dates for 2010 - please put these in your diaries and follow the links or contact us for further information/how to get involved:

• Bioblitz - 21/22 May - contact Philippa
• Festival of Nature - 11-13 June - contact Dane
• Engage 2010 - 23 September - contact Philippa with requests/ideas for sessions
• National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement national conference - 7 December

In the digest this week:

1. Institute of Physics Schools Lecture - deadline 7 May 2010
The Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture uses demonstrations and interactivity to enthuse students and show how their classroom science relates to modern fields of physics. IoP are currently looking for an enthusiastic and inspiring physicist to produce and deliver the 2011 talk to audiences primarily of 14-16 year olds at approximately 35 venues organised by the Institute (this usually involves at least two talks pervenue). For more details see the CPE blog or email Claire Mills at IoP.

2. AHRC Public Engagement training - deadline 9 July 2010
The AHRC has identified a gap in the AHRC’s training strategy for postgraduates in terms of encouraging them to share their research with non-academic audiences, and to engage with wider opportunities offered by public engagement. Awards are offered under two categories - Student Led Initiatives (£2000) and Specialist (£10,000). More information here

3. Volunteer Management Programme (England)
Capacitybuilders Volunteer Management Programme is a £1million bursary scheme aimed at supporting volunteer management skills development. Bursaries of up to £1,950 will be available to individuals in England who support, coordinate, manage or have strategic responsibility for volunteers. More information here

4. Lifelong Learning Programme (UK) - deadline 16 July 2010
The European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme brings together all the EU’s education, vocational training and e-Learning activities. This call is to support the establishment and implementation of coherent and comprehensive lifelong learning strategies and policies at national, regional and local level. The EU is looking to support projects covering and inter-linking all types (formal, non-formal, informal) and levels of learning (pre-school, primary, secondary, tertiary, adult, initial and continuing vocational education and training), including links to other relevant policy sectors (e.g. employment and social inclusion). More information here

If you're interested in citizen engagement you might want to look at the Speakers' Corner Trust which will soon be launching in Bristol, with performances of famous speeches taking place in the city centre on April 28th. More information here

And last but not least, Emeritus Professor David Blockley has written a book called 'Bridges - the science and art of the world's most inspiring structures' - which is about much more than bridges! Read and comment here

Best wishes,

Philippa

IoP Schools and Colleges Lecture

The Institute of Physics Schools and Colleges Lecture has been delivered by a seriesof acclaimed physics communicators on an annual basis throughout Great Britain forover twenty years. The lecture uses demonstrations and interactivity to enthuse students and show how their classroom science relates to modern fields of physics. We are currently looking for an enthusiastic and inspiring physicist to produce and deliver the 2011 talk to audiences primarily of 14-16 year olds at approximately 35 venues organised by the Institute (this usually involves at least two talks pervenue).

Past talks have included:
Powering the Future: The Physics of Fusion - Melanie Windridge
How to Explore the Universe – Andrew Newsam, Liverpool John Moores University
Rock in 11 Dimensions: Where Physics and Guitars Collide! - Mark Lewney
Light Fantastic: The Science of Colour - Pete Vukusic, University of Exeter
Gravity, Gas and Stardust - Pete Edwards, Durham University
Our Planet, Our Future - Karen Bultitude, Laura Grant
Fantastic Plastic - Averil MacDonald, Surrey University
Music to your Ears - Wendy Sadler, Techniquest

Existing talks will be considered if they have not toured nationally and in the past the Institute has funded the tour with around £20k but we are happy to assist the presenter in seeking further funding if desired. If you are interested in taking on this prestigious role for 2011 please send us a two page proposal before Friday 7th May 2010 outlining the talk topic, your previous experience and indicative costs. We are interested in receiving proposals from all areas of physics but particularly the area of medical physics as we are keen to dosomething to mark the 100th anniversary of Marie Curie being awarded her second Nobel Prize.We will select a shortlist and these people will be asked to present a short talk at the Institute's offices in London. It is anticipated these will take place during the last week of May or first week of June.

For queries or to submit a proposal please contact:
Clare Mills
Project Coordinator
Education Department
Institute of Physics
76 Portland Place
London W1B 1NT
Tel: 020 7470 4965
E-mail: clare.mills@iop.org

Speakers' Corner in Bristol

Speakers' Corner Trust is a registered charity, founded in 2007, which promotes free expression, public debate and active citizenship as a means of revitalising civil society in the UK and supporting its development in emerging democracies. The central principle in all these events is that they should be accessible to all, strictly non-partisan and non-adversarial, welcome diversity and seek to inform opinion and identify common ground. Following a period of consultation, a Bristol Speakers' Corner Committee has been established and is now considering potential sites for a Speakers' Corner in Bristol city centre and plans for the project's launch later this year.

The proposal is that
* professional actors be engaged to perform a range of historic speeches in order to establish the suitability of each site
* in order to make best use of the opportunity, voluntary groups be invited to make brief presentations in rotation with the actors
* subject to further consideration, the exercise be undertaken on 28 April.

The following list of sites will be reduced by the Committee on 14 April to a shortlist of three or four:
*Arnolfini/Bush House
*Castle Green/Castle Park
*College Green
*Colston Avenue
*Corn Street
*Queen Square.


The Committee is keen to exploit the opportunity created by the actors' performance to provide a public platform for local voluntary groups.

John Dawson of Speaking Circles, another member of the Committee, has offered to provide free coaching for up to ten participating members of voluntary groups in the basic techniques of effective speaking in public. The session will take place on the afternoon of Monday 26 April.

The initiative provides a significant opportunity to secure positive ublicity for the Speakers' Corner project as well as the organisations nd voluntary groups which contribute to it. It is also hoped that, perhaps working with students from the universities, it will be possible to record the event on film.

Peter Bradley
Speakers' Corner Trust
0207 870 9595 / m 07801 105260
peterbradley@speakerscornertrust.org
www.speakerscornertrust.org

Speakers' Corner Trust is a registered charity no. 1120913and a limited company registered in England and Wales no. 6116102.Registered Office: Pellipar House, 1st Floor, 9 Cloak Lane, London EC4R2RU.