Engagers' Digest - 5/5/2011

I hope you have all enjoyed the Easter and bank holiday break, and are looking forward to a summer term packed with engagement opportunities. A big thank you to all who took part in the Changing Perspectives art-science series - pictures and reports will be on our website soon. And congratulations to Anne Cooke of Bristol Neuroscience, winner of the University Engagement Award. More about Anne's work is in this press release - http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2011/7605.html

In this edition of the Digest:

1. Volunteering with the Bristol Natural History Consortium - May and June 2011 [all fields; all levels]
2. Wellcome Trust science writing prize - deadline 20 May 2011 [all fields; all levels]
   
3. Business and Community Engagement CPD Focus Group - 25 May 2011 [all fields; all levels]
4. ESRC Festival of Social Science - funding deadline 3 June 2011 [social sciences; all levels]
5. British Science Festival bursaries - deadline 15 July 2011 [all fields; students]
6. British Science Association Science in Society e-newsletter [sciences, social sciences; all levels]
7. New IPSOS-MORI public attitudes to science report released [sciences; all levels]
   

1. Volunteering with the Bristol Natural History Consortium - May and June 2011
The University is a partner in the Bristol Natural History Consortium and we will have a strong presence showcasing University research at this year's Festival of Nature (17-19 June 2011). We'll also be contributing to this year's Bristol Bioblitz - a race against the clock to find as many species as possible in the National Trust Tyntesfield Estate (20-21 May 2011)

There are a number of excellent volunteering opportunities with BNHC, including volunteering at the Bioblitz, the Festival and the possibility of a free Glastonbury ticket with a new event called 'Meet the Species'. See this blog post for more information - http://centreforpublicengagement.blogspot.com/2011/05/volunteering-with-bristol-natural.html - or go to the BNHC site.

2. Wellcome Trust science writing prize - deadline 20 May 2011
This exciting new competition aims to find the next generation of undiscovered science writing talent. The Wellcome Trust are looking for short articles that address any area of science and would be suitable for publication in the 'Guardian' or the 'Observer' in print and online. You must demonstrate that you have thought about and understood your audience and can bring a scientific idea to life. More information at http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/swp

3. Business and Community Engagement Focus Group - 25 May 2011
AURIL and JISC are running a series of focus groups to shape the development of a new national framework to support continuing professional development for Business and Community Engagement (BCE). They are looking for people to take part in the events.
The focus events are open to all staff involved in BCE activities in higher and further education, Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) including Research Councils and Beacons for Public Engagement. The event in Bristol is on 25 May - more information - http://bit.ly/eIFXQU

4. ESRC Festival of Social Science - funding deadline 3 June 2011
The ESRC Festival of Social Science will be taking place in 2011 from 29 October to 5 November. Applications to participate in the Festival are now welcome and are available at www.esrcfestival.ac.uk.
Two types of applications are available:
a) Applying for support of up to £2000 -- due 3 June
b) Applying for event to be listed: non-supported -- due 17 June
The Festival welcomes event applications targeting a non-academic audience including young people, third sector, the public, business or government.
The guidelines around the aims of the Festival and how to apply are in the Application Guidelines under Organise an Event.

5. British Science Festival Student Bursaries - deadline 15 July 2011
The British Science Festival student bursary scheme enables Universities to sponsor students to attend the largest annual public science event in Europe - this year in Bradford from 10^th -15^th September- for £350. This price includes Festival registration, accommodation for seven nights and food for the week. Bursary order forms and information about the British Science Festival are available at www.britishscienceassociation.org/studentbursary.

New resources:

6. British Science Association new Scientists in Society e-newsletter is a monthly newsletter designed especially for researchers to keep people up to date with the latest public engagement schemes run by the British Science Association and organisations that share their aim to advance the public understanding and accessibility of the sciences and engineering. Subscribe free by emailing events@britishscienceassociation.org

7. New 'public attitudes to science report' released - see http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/public-attitudes-science-2011