Free talk - the cutting edge of nanoscience research

The Bristol Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information: A research centre for new opportunities.

Come to a free evening talk about The state-of-the-art Bristol Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information (NSQI).

Did you know that its vibration and acoustic noise levels are among the lowest achieved anywhere in the world?

Come along and find out more about the Centre's special features, its cutting edge research, and enjoy a virtual tour of the building.


Time: Tuesday 15 June, 6 pm to 7 pm, FREE

Venue: NSQI, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1FD

To book, email Diane Thorne in the Centre for Public Engagement;
Tel: (0117) 331 8318, Web: bristol.ac.uk/cms/cpe

Bioblitz - how many species?

The Bioblitz blog notes the tally from the weekend's wildlife sleuthing was a marvelous 536 species. Organisers are quietly confident that this number will increase once final information comes from Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre (BRERC).

With perfect weather for spotting species - from sac-carrying spiders, ladybirds, owls, bats and much, much more - Blaise Castle estate was teeming with enthusiastic people combing the local habitat and finding out about the biodiversity right under our noses.

As for the moth trapping - I can highly recommend it. 5-year old Nye was very excited, not least by the prospect of being up way past his bedtime, but also by the number of different moths that were recorded just in a short space of time. He was also fascinated by a cockchaffer or Maybug, which took a particular liking to his jumper sleeve! Hours of fun....roll on next year!

Bristol BioBlitz

Bristol BioBlitz - 21-22 May 2010
Blaise Castle Estate, Kingsweston Road, BS10 7QS

Come along to Bristol's second ever Bioblitz and join the race against the clock to identify as many local species as possible. Become a wildlife detective and help research teams beat last year's total at Ashton Court, where 637 species were identified.

Progress will be available on the marvelous Bioblitz blog, which judging by last year's effort, will be an absolute treat of audiovisual content delight, with interviews, photos, film, and that all important species tally.

With lots of exciting activities such as bat and owl walks, big bug hunts, and more, it's a good time to get down and dirty and back to nature with the Bioblitz team. Who wants to spend Friday night in the pub when you can get down to some serious moth trapping and identification? That's what me and my 5-year old son Nye will be doing this evening...and boy, is he excited! See you there!

Organised by the Bristol Natural History Consortium,

Engagers' Digest - 20/5/10

Dear all,

Welcome to another Digest. A few important dates and opportunities:

1. Bristol BioBlitz - May 21 and 22
Tomorrow is the first day of the Bristol BioBlitz, a 30-hour race against the clock to identify as many species as possible in the Blasie Castle Estate. Come along to join the hunt, or sign up for some of the nature walks including a 4:30am dawn chorus walk! More information here

2. Engage 2010 Marketplace
Thanks to those of you who responded positively to the opportunity to share your engagement work at Engage 2010 on 23 September. This is a great chance to show other groups tools and techniques for engagement you have developed, and the highlights (and low points!) of your experiences. If you are interested in having a table and display board at the meeting, between 12-2pm, please let me know by 30 May.

3. Researchers in Residence
Researchers in Residence (RinR) places enthusiastic early-stage career researchers (PhD and post doc researchers) in host secondary schools to inspire 11-19 year olds about their work.
Participation helps researchers to develop transferable skills and meets funders’ public engagement expectations. Placements are flexible and may comprise demonstrations, discussions, career talks or university visits. Training is provided and researchers funded directly or indirectly by one of the seven UK Research Councils or the Wellcome Trust are eligible to apply.
To apply or find out more call 0845 365 7470 or visit http://www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk/

4. RCUK publication seeks early career researcher profiles
Research Councils UK is calling for researchers who are active in public engagement to take part in a project about their work, in conjunction with the National Co-ordinating Centre and Vitae. More information and a short form to complete is at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/100513.htm

5. 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.

6. Effective Evaluation for STEM E&E Providers - Thursday 2 September, Bristol
Evaluating activities appropriately is essential to providing schools and colleges with confidence that activities are worthwhile and matched to their students’ needs. Effective evaluation is also a crucial way to assure funders that their money is being well spent, and helps you as STEM providers ensure that your activities are operating as effectively and efficiently as possible. A free one-day workshop for STEM E&E providers - more information at http://www.big.uk.com/events/evaluation/

Engagers' Digest - 10/5/10

Dear all,

Welcome to a packed edition of the Digest. Please forward information on to your colleagues where appropriate.


Engage 2010 Marketplace
Thanks to those of you who responded positively to the opportunity to share your engagement work at Engage 2010 on 23 September. If you are interested in having a table and display board at the meeting, between 12-2pm, please let me know by 30 May.


Urgent

1. Public Engagement training for Engineers at Cheltenham Science Festival - June 2010
Apply today! More information in a separate blog post

2. STFC Public Engagement Symposium - 19 May 2010
Aimed at light source, neutron and muon users (e.g. Diamond, ESRF, CLF, ISIS and ILL) interested in developing public engagement activities that highlight their research to wider audiences, at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
Register here: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/stfcforms/facilitysymposium.aspx

3. Junior Science Cafes in N Somerset - June and July
Would you be interested in bringing a contemporary science topic alive for secondary school pupils? Gordano School is looking for speakers for lunchtime science cafes in June and July. Please contact me if you are interested.

Other news and opportunities:

4. The Elephant Trust - New, Innovative Visual Arts Projects - 28 June 2010
Grants of up to £2,000 to artists and institutions (priority is given to small organisations and galleries) for new, innovative visual arts projects based in the UK. http://www.elephanttrust.org.uk/docs/intro.html

5. Wellcome Trust Arts Awards - deadline 30 July 2010
These grants support imaginative and experimental arts projects that investigate biomedical science. Up to £30,000 is available for up to three years. Award amount max: £30,000. More information, go to http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Grants/Arts-Awards/

6. Physiological Society Outreach Grants - monthly rolling deadline
Awards of up to £1000 are available to help inspire the next generation of young physiologists. For more information, go to http://www.physoc.org/grants

7. British Science Festival Festival Assistants - September 2010
Do you want to work at this year’s British Science Festival in Birmingham? Are you free from 13 - 20 September 2010? Working or volunteering at the Festival is an excellent opportunity to take part in the UK’s longest-established science festival which attracts thousands of visitors participating in talks and discussions on the latest burning issues in science. For information and applications visit www.britishscienceassociation.org/jobs

8. Wellcome Trust Society Awards - deadline 12 October 2010
Society Awards provide grants of over £30,000 for ambitious and creative projects that engage people of all ages and walks of life with developments in biomedical science on a regional or national scale. More information, go to http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Grants/Society-Awards/index.htm

Finally - Congratulations to Becky Hothersall in the Vet School's Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group who has received a British Science Association Media Fellowship. Becky will be working with BBC Countryfile and at the British Science Festival in Birmingham.

Best wishes,

Philippa

Public Engagement training for engineers at Cheltenham

Are you a qualified engineer? Keen to share your passion for your subject with the public?
Would you like FREE training in public engagement from some of the world's top trainers?
Then why don't you apply to join us at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival?

The Cheltenham Science Festival, with support from the Royal Academy of Engineering, is offering 12 engineers an intensive programme, including practical training in presentation and communication skills, plus the chance to deliver events at the Festival to both adults and children, with full support from experienced presenters and trainers. You'll also be able to attend events and network with the world-class engineers, scientists and presenters who come the Festival.

You must be over 21, and a qualified engineer working or studying in the UK.

You don't need any experience of talking to the public, but we do want to see evidence that you're interested in public engagement. This is a five-day training programme -- you must be available from June 9th -- 13th, with no other commitments. To apply, go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L93VCYB and fill in a short application form by May 9th 2010. We will telephone shortlisted applicants in the week beginning May 10th, and you will know later that week whether you have been selected.

If you have any questions, please call Timandra Harkness on 07958 988689 or Sharon Bishop on +44 (0)1242 775824.

'Unquestionably the leading Science Festival in the country' -- Professor Robert Winston

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival is a five-day celebration of science, engineering and the arts. A rare opportunity for the public to come face-to-face with around 300 of the world's leading scientists, engineers and thinkers, the festival annually sells in excess of 23,000 tickets whilst the free interactive Discover Zone attracts over 10,000 visitors. The five day festival promises a mix of serious debate, live experiments and surprising discoveries all based at Cheltenham Town Hall.

This year's Guest Directors Heston Blumenthal and Brian Cox are joined by an exciting line-up of top speakers including author Bill Bryson, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government John Beddington, President of Virgin Galactic Will Whitehorn, comedians Robin Ince and Ben Miller and a host of Royal Academy of Engineering Fellows, such as Public Engagement Fellow David James, Chair of the Olympic Delivery Authority John Armitt, and Honorary Fellow Robert Winston. Take a look at the full programme here: www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science

Farm animal minds twilight talk

Still taking bookings for the forthcoming twilight talk....Farm Animal Minds, 6 pm, 11 May 2010, at the Watershed.
For bookings, contact Margery Lever; tel: +44 (0)117 3318313, email: margery.lever@bristol.ac.uk

Free, informative, informal....
Free public talk with researchers from the University of Bristol