Friday, 11 May 2012

Engagers’ Digest 14/05/12

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement
1.    Volunteering at Know your Bristol events
2.    Volunteering (and paid work) at Bristol Festival of Nature

Events
1.    Workshop on student involvement in STEM communication activities: 25 May 2012, Bath
2.    Science cafe - Making blood: 28 May 2012, Bristol
3.    Community Partner Summit: 25 – 26 June 2012, Bristol
4.    NCCPE Engage 2012 conference – call for contributors and session convenors

Other news
1.    RCUK research career case studies
2.    Outreach opportunity – looking for keynote speaker: Skirting Science



University of Bristol engagement
1. Volunteering at Know your Bristol events
Are you keen to get involved in public engagement activities?  Would you like to develop your communication skills?  Do you want to find out more about Bristol and its heritage?
We are looking for students to help out as part of Know your Bristol – a series of free public events about local community heritage taking place in May and June.  Each event will allow people to explore the local history and culture through the eyes of the community.  Members of the public are invited to bring their own stories and objects such as films, family photographs, and historical artefacts.
We would like volunteers to help record oral histories from people who have a story to tell.  Previous experience of capturing oral histories is not necessary as we will brief all volunteers beforehand.  Oral histories will be recorded so all you will need to do is encourage the participant to share their memories with you.  This is great opportunity to gain experience in engaging the public and is especially useful for students who work with members of the public as part of their studies.  And who knows what amazing stories you will hear?
For further information or to volunteer for an event please contact Kate Miller on email: kate.miller@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 3318321.  Web:

Know your Bristol events:
·         Know your Zoo – Saturday 12 May
·         Know your Arnos Vale – Saturday 19 May
·         Know your Kings Weston – Saturday 16 June
·         Know your South Bristol – Saturday 23 June
·         Know your Bristol – Saturday 30 June


2. Volunteering (and paid work) at Bristol Festival of Nature
We are looking for staff and students to help out at the Festival of Nature, the UK's largest free celebration of the natural world, which takes place on the 16 - 17 June.  With hands-on exhibits and activities, the Bristol Festival of Nature gives wildlife enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to explore, enjoy and get close to the natural world in the heart of the city.
Volunteers can help out on a variety of University of Bristol exhibits and gain experience in engaging the public.  In addition, we are looking for people to carry out surveys of the festival-goers as part of the overall evaluation of the festival and the University’s contribution.  Evaluators will be paid £2.50 per survey; lunch and refreshments will also be provided and you will have a chance to experience the Festival.   Previous experience is not required as training will be provided.  This is a great opportunity to gain experience in conducting surveys, especially for those who work with public participants as part of their research.
For further information please contact Becky Jones on email: rebecca.jones@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 3318315.  Web: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/festival.html.


Events



1. Workshop on student involvement in STEM communication activities: 25 May 2012, Bath
The workshop Share, Improve, Develop will compare and share good practice in student involvement and enable participants to directly consider the implications and opportunities for enhancing student involvement in delivering STEM communication activities within their own institutions.
Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, 4 West Building, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
To register and for further information see web:

2. Science cafe - Making blood: 28 May 2012, Bristol
Dr Alexandra Gampel and Dr Ash Toye of the School of Biochemistry will discuss their work developing novel methods to make red blood cells in the lab, hoping to mimic the way they are made naturally.
Venue: Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Road, Bristol, BS3 1QS

3. Community Partner Summit: 25 – 26 June 2012
Calling community partners: have you experience of working in partnership with universities to tackle issues of social inequality? Are you interested in exploring how deeper community partner input might improve how these partnerships work?  If so, the first UK Community Partner Summit, 25th and 26th June 2012, is for you. This summit aims to provide one of the first opportunities for community partners from across the UK to come together to share their collective knowledge and consider ways of building community-university partnership capacity and resilience.
Further information from web:
Closing date for applications is the 18 May.

4. NCCPE Engage 2012 conference – call for contributors and session convenors
The third NCCPE National Conference will explore how engagement helps universities to navigate the complexities of change and to respond to increasingly intense public interest. The NCCPE are currently looking for session convenors, and projects for an engagement showcase session. For more information and how to apply, please visit www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/engage-2012-responding-change


Other news

1. RCUK research career case studies
As part of its work in promoting careers in research to young people, Research Councils UK has commissioned Isinglass Consultancy to produce short case studies of funded researchers, to be published on the RCUK website and link to appropriate careers websites. It is hoped that these case studies will convey a sense of the diverse nature of research activity, highlight the various careers paths taken and emphasise the personal and professional experiences of working in research.
RCUK is looking for researchers that are/were previously funded by one of the Research Councils and whose experience and background would be of interest to young people.
In the first instance please contact Cheryl Hewer on email cheryl.hewer@rcuk.ac.uk or tel:  01793 41 3076


2. Outreach opportunity – looking for keynote speaker: Skirting Science
Skirting Science is a one day event that inspires the next generation of female scientists. It is taking place in Weston-super-Mare on the 13 July 2012. This is the fourth time the event has run and over 200 Year 9 girls will attend. A report in previous events can be found at http://www.spanglefish.com/NSISSP/index.asp?pageid=317656. We are looking for a female scientist, engineer or mathematician to give a keynote speech at the beginning of the event about their life in science. So if you're looking to reach young people in the local area and have an inspiring story you'd like to share please do get in contact. My name is Mark Nelson and I can be contacted at 
email: mark.nelson2@n-somerset.gov.uk or tel: 01275 885301.

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