Engagers' Digest 13/03/2015

In this edition:
University of Bristol engagement
1. Introductory schools public engagement training: 23 March
2. European Green Capital, Bristol 2015 internal networking event: 25 March
3. Festival of Nature propose and exhibit: deadline 2 April
4. Being Human Festival get involved: deadline 17 April

Funding and awards
5. Redland and Cotham Amenities Society grant for urban environment postgrad projects: UoB deadline 15 May

Events and training
6. Bristol Politics Café
7. The BIG Event early bird registration: deadline 5 April
8. 2015 Science Communication Conference: 18-19 June
9. Science in Public 2015 registration: 7-10 July
10. Registration for NCCPE training now open

News and opportunities
11. British Science Festival call for proposals: deadline 23 March
12. Land of the Summer People Exhibition: 25 March
13. Rising Ape Presents: 25 March
14. Jawbreaker audio communication contest for STEM topics: deadline 15 June
15. Speakezee.org
16. Opportunity to collaborate on a schools engagement project on the Dunkirk Evacuation





University of Bristol engagement


1. Introductory schools public engagement training (Tier 1): 23 March
This training session, 9.30am – 1pm, will be led by our colleagues at Graphic Science www.graphicscience.co.uk and is designed for up to 20 researchers from any discipline who are interested in communicating their research to a secondary schools audience. This opportunity is provided through the RCUK School-University Partnership Initiative www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/projects/engaging-with-schools/ It will be held in room 3.13, Graduate School of Education, 35 Berkeley Square

Key objectives of Tier 1 – Introductory training session:
· presentation skills: jargon busting, body language
· practical considerations for working with schools
· methods for engaging school students with contemporary research
· opportunities & support available through the University of Bristol
· meet and/or work alongside other researchers from across the University of Bristol, and to share best practice with them.
For more information and to book, please contact chloe.anderson@bristol.ac.uk at the Centre for Public Engagement

2. European Green Capital: Bristol 2015 internal networking event: 25 March
On Wednesday 25 March, we are holding an internal event to enable staff and students to find out more about opportunities to get involved with Green Capital, and for everyone to share plans and activities over drinks and nibbles. Join us in room 4.10, Graduate School of Education 5-7pm
For more information http://www.bristol.ac.uk/university/sustainability/ or email cpe-info@bristol.ac.uk. To register your attendance https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-2015-european-green-capital-internal-uob-networking-event-tickets-15889559099

3. Bristol Festival of Nature propose and exhibit: deadline 2 April
We are preparing for the University of Bristol exhibition tent at this year’s Bristol Festival of Nature. The event provides a great opportunity to promote and share research from the University and incorporates interactive and hands-on activities to engage the public in science. If you or your research group like to propose an exhibit or discuss the possibility of a stand or speaker within the UoB tent, please contact Mireia Bes or Hannah Berg at the Centre for Public Engagement mireia.bes@bristol.ac.uk, hb12029@bristol.ac.uk

4. Being Human Festival get involved: deadline 17 April
Being Human Festival is the national festival for humanities that runs from the 12-22 November. Their call for participation in the festival is now live and small grants are available to help fund festival activities. They are looking for activities to engage non-academic audiences and demonstrate the role of humanities in the UK. For more information http://beinghumanfestival.org/get-involved/ The University is coordinating applications in order to present a programme of events (coinciding with Inside Arts). If you are considering making an application please email sam.barlow@bristol.ac.uk for further details.


Funding and awards


5. Redland and Cotham Amenities Society grant for urban environment postgrad projects: UoB deadline 15 May
The RCAS are offering one or more project grants of up to £1000 to postgraduate researchers at Bristol’s Universities for research topics on the understanding and enhancement of the urban environment. RCAS is a charity concerned with preserving and enhancing the Redland and Cotham area. They are looking for two grant applications from each university to fund a 2015/16 project that would finish by July 2016. The deadline for applications is 30 June
For more information about the grants and application process please contact hannah.tweddell@bristol.ac.uk at the Centre for Public Engagement.


Events and training


6. Bristol Politics Cafe
The Bristol Politics Cafe seeks to encourage debate and discussion in the run up to the May 2015 election. In collaboration with PolicyBristol, the Politics Cafe has selected a range of experts from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England to share their expertise and answer your questions on topics from media bias, to EU governance, to austerity. The café will run 8-10pm on Wednesday evenings at The Station, Silver Street, Bristol BS1 2AG.
For more information http://www.bristol.ac.uk/policybristol/influencing-policy/elections-2015/politics-cafe/

7. The BIG Event early bird registration: deadline 5 April
Taking place 22 - 24 July in Norwich the BIG Event is relevant for designers, presenters, educators, students, front of house staff, evaluators, educationalists, funders, and anyone involved in the public engagement with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The Event will include a crammed timetable of workshops, discussions, shows, design and build sessions and early bird registration is now open.
For more information and to book http://www.big.uk.com/bigevent15

8. 2015 Science Communication Conference: 18-19 June
Manchester Metropolitan University will host this year’s conference on the 18-19 June with tickets now on sale. The conference aims to bring together everyone from across Science Communication, to share exciting new techniques and approaches, address challenges for the science communication sector, and network and learn from each other.

The programme will include:
· Challenging keynote address and debate
· Parallel sessions divided into interested, experienced and expert streams for different experience levels
· Evening entertainment and networking sessions
· Challenge sessions on day two, to come up with practical actions for the sector to take.
· Fringe events on Wednesday 17 June, organised by Manchester Metropolitan University and Science Showoff.
Bringing together science communicators, academics and speakers from outside the sector, this year’s programme has a particular focus on moving the sector forward, improving practice and upping our game.
For more information and to book http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/Event/science-communication-conference-2015

9. Science in Public 2015 registration: 7-10 July
Registration is now open for the 2015 Science in Public conference. Theconference, with the theme “Science in Public: research, practice, impact” will be hosted by the Science Communication Unit at the University of the West of England, Bristol, on 9-10 July. The conference offers a broad platform for discussion and debate across disciplinary boundaries; in previous years it has welcomed researchers from science and technology studies, history of science, geography, psychology, cultural studies, media studies, sociology, science communication, development studies, English literature, science policy studies and more. For more information and to register http://scienceinpublic.org/sip2015/ or contact scu.research@uwe.ac.uk

10. Registration for NCCPE training now open
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) have opened registration for their 2015 training courses that cover beginners’ guides to masterclasses. They are a key way to develop your practice and enhance skills. For more information on the various courses and to book http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/work-with-us/continued-professional-development-cpd-training/


News and opportunities


11. British Science Festival call for proposals: deadline 23 March
This year, the British Science Festival is opening its doors to academics, individuals and organisations who are interested in bringing cutting edge science to a national audience.
The British Science Festival is Europe's longest-standing national event which connects people with scientists, engineers, technologists and social scientists. The Festival will be returning to Bradford on 7-10 September and invites researchers to apply to showcase their work at the Festival.
For more information email hana.ayoob@britishscienceassociation.org and to submit a proposal http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/bradford-2015-call-for-proposals

12. Land of the Summer People Exhibition: 25 March
Part of a multidisciplinary project exploring flood impact in Somerset, this exhibit is a collaboration between regional artists Seila Fernandez Arconada, Jon England, Andrea Oke, Deborah Westmancoat and PhD students of the Water Informatics in Science and Engineering (WISE) Centre for Doctoral Training jointly run by the Universities of Exeter, Cardiff, Bath and Bristol. It demonstrates the unstable relationship between society, water and place using creative and scientific methods and is part of a wider goal to apply participatory research to understand societal response to extreme weather events. The Exhibition will be held at Exeter Community Centre, 17 St. David's Hill, Exeter, EX4 3RG on 25 March, 6pm – 8.30pm. For more information http://www.thelandofthesummerpeople.org

13. Rising Ape Presents: 25 March
Following the success of Life on Mars and Enter the Bat Cave, the Bristol-based Rising Ape Collective are now planning events for the next few months, and are looking for new collaborators!

Could you contribute to the upcoming themes of:
· Dinosaurs
· Sustainability/Renewable energy
· Robotics/coding
· Health and the human body
· Death
The Collective work closely with local researchers to develop the content of each event, and also provide a space for them to deliver a short talk on their research. So, if you have a passion for your subject, and want to talk about your personal research story, they would love to hear from you.
'Rising Ape Presents' take place in the Bristol Improv Theatre on the last Wednesday of every month from the 25 of March. For more information and to discuss ideas email Antony at rising.ape.collective@gmail.com.

14. Jawbreaker audio communication contest for STEM topics: deadline 15 June
Stemagora, a French project promoting science communication with the public, has announced their audio communication contest. The contest, called Jawbreaker, is for science professionals, students and the general public. They will need to submit an audio project in .mp3 format (up to 10 minutes in length) on a STEM topic of their choice. All nationalities are welcome to apply and entries can be in English or French.
For more information and to submit an entry http://www.quilla.info/

15. Speekezee.org
Speekezze.org is a new website that connects audiences with experts. It is a simple powerful and free tool to use for public engagement. You can register as a speaker or search for one for your event and this is only the first stage, the next stage includes tracking invitations and evidence of pathways to impact.
http://www.speakezee.org/

16. Opportunity to collaborate on a schools engagement project on the Dunkirk Evacuation
Local storyteller, Michael Loader, is looking for a member of staff/postgrad student who could deliver a one-hour interactive session on the Dunkirk Evacuation to a school group.
If you are interested in getting involved please contact Fiona.hyland@bristol.ac.uk at CPE in the first instance.