Centre for Public Engagement

The Royal Society & ESRC opportunities

2012-01-18T09:24:00.003Z

1] The Royal Society is inviting nominations for the:

The Michael Faraday Prize - awarded to the scientist or engineer whose expertise in communicating scientific ideas in lay terms is exemplary. For further details, eligibility information and to download the nomination form for this award, please see http://royalsociety.org/awards/michael-faraday-prize/

The Royal Society Kohn Award - for UK-based early-career stage scientists who have undertaken high-quality public engagement activities that have had (or will have) a strategic impact on institutions, organisations and cultures. For further details, eligibility information and to download the nomination form for this award, please see http://royalsociety.org/awards/kohn-award/

Anyone is able to nominate a candidate for a Royal Society medal, award or prize lectureship. The closing date for returning completed nomination forms is Monday 6 February 2012. Should you require any further information please contact Camilla Tham by email at awards@royalsociety.org

2] ESRC Knowledge Exchange opportunities: deadline 7 February 2012

The ESRC knowledge exchange funding call includes public engagement within the call.

The scheme provides the opportunity to apply for funding for knowledge exchange activities at any stage of the research lifecycle, and is aimed at maximising the impact of social science research outside academia.

The flexibility built into the scheme is intended to encourage applicants to think creatively about knowledge exchange, and applications are welcomed for either a single activity or a combination of activities; be it setting up a network to help inform the development of a research proposal, arranging an academic placement with a voluntary or business organisation, or developing tools such as podcasts and videos aimed at communicating the results of research to non-academic audiences.

Applicants can apply for projects up to one year in duration. However, the proposed start date should be no earlier than 1 September 2012. Call information is at: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/collaboration/knowledge-exchange/opportunities/index.aspx

Engagers' Digest 13/01/12

2012-01-13T13:50:00.019Z

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement

Engagement awards: application deadline 13 March 2012 [all fields; all levels]
Enhancing STEM Academics' Public Engagement Skills [STEM; all levels]
SYBHEL synthetic biology short story competition: deadline 16 April 2012 [all fields; all levels]

Funding

Wellcome Trust Peoples Awards: deadline 27 January 2012 [biomedical science; all levels]
The Physiological Society public engagement grants: deadline 29 February 2012 [physiology; all levels]
JISC Grant Funding Call: deadline 1 March 2012 [all fields; all levels]

Events

Bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curricula to life through public engagement: 1 March 2012
Bright Club: 1 March 2012, 7:30pm
The Rules of Engagement Seminar Series: various dates
Surveying Impact: Using Questionnaires to Evaluate Learning and Engagement Outcomes: 24 February 2012
BIG Event 2012: 25-27 July 2012

Other news

The British Science Association Award Lectures nominations deadline 27 January 2012
Developing public engagement projects during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games

University of Bristol engagement

1. Engagement awards: application deadline 13 March 2012
We are pleased to announce the Engagement awards for 2011/12, sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers. Two awards will be made this year, each of £500, one to an individual and one to a group showing outstanding achievement in engagement. Individuals or groups can apply for the awards, or be nominated by a colleague. More details can be found on web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/staff/engagement-awards/ or contact Kate Miller on email: kate.miller@bristol.ac.uk tel: (0117) 33 18321.

2. Enhancing STEM Academics' Public Engagement Skills
An online guide entitled "Delivering Effective STEM Public Engagement" has been produced as part of a University of Bristol-led project which aims to help academics working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM subjects) to design and carry out public engagement workshops with school children. The guide, which was funded by the National HE STEM Programme, is available to download from the project's website:
http://www.hestem-sw.org.uk/widening-participation/wp-projects/?p=16&pp=Training+Resources+for+STEM+Public+Engagement

3. SYBHEL synthetic biology short story competition: deadline 16 April 2012
The SYBHEL Project has launched a multimedia synthetic biology short story competition to imaginatively consider the issues around synthetic biology through the creation of fictional narratives. The stories can be told using a range of different media including, writing, film, animation, graphic novels, spoken word or music. The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16 and more details can be found on web: http://sybhel.org/?p=761#

Funding

1. Wellcome Trust Peoples Awards: deadline 27 January 2012
Awards of up to £30,000 are available under the Wellcome Trust's Peoples Awards for projects that encourage public debate and understanding of biomedical science. Projects can be funded for up to three years and can include activities such as:

Workshops and seminars
Arts projects for a variety of different audiences and age groups
Teaching materials or techniques to encourage wider discussions
Projects that utilise the collections of the Wellcome Library and the Wellcome Collection at the Science Museum.

Web: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funding-schemes/people-awards/index.htm
The Centre for Public Engagement is able to provide assistance with planning and developing applications; contact Kate Miller on email: kate.miller@bristol.ac.uk if you are interested in applying for this scheme.

2. The Physiological Society public engagement grants: deadline 29 February 2012
The Physiological Society is launching a new grant scheme to support public engagement. A total of £5000 is available to both Society members and non-members to engage with public audiences on a topic that relates to physiology. Further information from web: http://www.physoc.org/public-engagement-grants

3. JISC Grant Funding Call: deadline 1 March 2012
The NCCPE has partnered with JISC to fund an opportunity for researcher groups to develop their capability to analyse and articulate the impact and benefits of their work, by working in partnership with FE and HE staff who have expertise in impact analysis. The objective is to stimulate the cross-pollination of existing expertise and technology to enhance capacity in the impact analysis of research across the sector.
Funding of up to £30,000 per project is available to support three-way
collaborative partnerships comprising:

Research groups seeking to develop their capabilities in analysing and articulating the impact and benefits of their research
Business and Community Engagement (BCE) practitioners with expertise in identifying external impact and benefits, and designing institutional services for this purpose
Leading research information management expertise and resources for impact evidence.

The NCCPE has launched an online matching site to support the formation of these partnerships. Interested researchers, impact analysts and research information management experts can sign up here: http://nccpe1.ning.com

Events

1. Bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curricula to life through public engagement: 1 March 2012
Organised by the National HE STEM Programme and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, this one day workshop explores the role of public engagement within the STEM curriculum, and its impact on students, on universities and on the public. This event will provide training and guidance on models of community-engaged learning and explore pedagogic and assessment issues. Academics, students, community partners and practitioners from all disciplines and areas are invited and up to £1000 in funding will be provided following the workshop for academics and practitioners to develop their practice in STEM disciplines.
Venue: Aston Conference Centre, University of Aston
Web: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/bringing-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-curricula-life-t

2. Bright Club: 1 March 2012, 7:30pm
Bright Club, the thinking person's variety night, has come to Bristol. Fresh from a sell-out first gig, they are looking for people who are brilliant at telling stories about what they know to take part in the second show. The training session for participants will be on the afternoon of Friday 3 February. For more details, see http://brightclubbristol.wordpress.com/ or contact Hayley Birch on email: hayley@soundsofscience.co.uk

3. The Rules of Engagement Seminar Series
The Culture Capital Exchange has organised a series of informal seminars aimed at assisting academic researchers communicate their research in a range of public situations and media. Topics covered include expressing complex ideas in an accessible way, making the most of networking, top tips on public speaking, blogging, tweeting, and presenting yourself and your ideas to the media.
Venue: Somerset House, London
For details about the individual sessions and to book:
a) Engaging in non-academic context: 25 January, 6-8pm http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2651993183
b) Communicating with non-academic groups: 1 March, 6-8pm http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2652053363
c) Broadcasting your ideas: 29 March, 6-8pm
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2652067405

4. Surveying Impact: Using Questionnaires to Evaluate Learning and Engagement Outcomes: 24 February 2012
Questionnaires offer a standardised method of collecting both quantitative and qualitative data. The sampling, distribution and analysis of questionnaires must be very carefully designed. This seminar will go over best practice principles as well as new and innovative ways of using
questionnaires to validly and reliably measure impacts.
Venue: Dana Centre, London
Web: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/sociology/news/scd/publicengagement/#Surveying Impact 24 Feb. 2012

5. BIG Event 2012: 25-27 July 2012
The British Interactive Group Annual Event is a prestigious conference that brings together 150+ STEM engagement and associated professionals from across the UK and beyond to share skills and experiences, develop professional links and keep up-to-date with the STEM engagement field. BIG is the skills-sharing network for individuals involved in the communication of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Venue: National Railway Museum, York
Web: http://www.big.uk.com

Other news

1. The British Science Association Award Lectures: nominations deadline 27 January 2012
The British Science Association is seeking nominations for Award Lectures to be delivered during the British Science Festival in Aberdeen between 4th and 9th September 2012. The Award Lectures reward five researchers who are also talented communicators and able to share their work with a general audience. The deadline for nominations is the 27th January. For details of eligibility criteria and the nomination form, visit
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/BritishScienceFestival/aboutthefestival/AwardLectures.htm

2. Developing public engagement projects during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games
Graphic Science, with funding from the Wellcome Trust, have produced a document which contains some information that may be of use to any individuals or organisations looking to develop public engagement projects during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games: http://www.graphicscience.co.uk/files/support_for_engagement_during_London_2012.pdf

The role of engaged learning

2011-12-05T17:05:00.001Z

In the past couple of years a major buzzword in publicengagement, at least in the academic environment, has been engagement withresearch. This is not entirelysurprising given the requirement of Pathways to Impactto link public engagement activities to the research in the grant. It’s even less surprising given the currentdemands for impact in the forthcoming national REF exercise,which again makes the connection between engagement and the underpinningresearch. So it was heartening to hear adifferent form of engagement being discussed at the NCCPE’s Engage2011 conference: engaged students.

Students doing public engagement as part of their degree wasthe topic of two sessions I attended on the second day of the conference. The first session focused on postgraduates ata University of Bath Doctoral Training Centre, which contains a module onpublic engagement. The second session(which just happened to be run by us at the Centre for Public Engagement!)considered case studies of engaged learning for undergraduates. These case studies ranged from sociology atthe University of Cambridge through to American students learning language andculture in Siena, Italy (where they talk about it as service learning, but theUK and the US have never been consistent in terminology). And of course there was our own example ofengaged learning in the form of our community-basedlearning project for 3^rd and 4^th year civilengineering students. Admittedly,postgraduate students and, to some extent, undergraduate students carry outresearch so these activities could be considered a facet of engagement withresearch. But realistically, many ofthese projects are just as, if not more, interested in the value of the skillsand experiences that the activities offer to the students – particularly interms of employability.

Engaged learning raises some interesting questions. Should such engagement be compulsory and, ifso, will that lessen the quality of the engagement? Will it mean that certain students do notpursue a particular degree course because of the public engagementobligations? Will public engagementbecome a box-ticking exercise for students rather than something theydeliberately invest time and effort in? Feedback from the projects discussed at Engage does not seem to reflectthis rather gloomy outlook. The studentsare genuinely motivated to do public engagement and are excited by theopportunities presented to them. Butthese are certainly questions to be considered by those of us looking to embedpublic engagement in the student experience.

Engagers’ Digest 25/11/11

2011-11-25T13:45:00.022Z

Here is the Engagers’ Digest; please do cascade this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues. If you would like to submit an item for the next Digest, due 19 December, please email: fiona.hyland@bristol.ac.uk

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement

Invitation to join a working group on paying service users for participation in health research [health; senior academics]

Funding

The Wellcome Trust - Arts Awards (UK): large grants deadline 16 Dec; small grants deadline 28 Jan [Arts/STEM; all levels]

Events

Invitation to the national launch of ‘A Bristol Curriculum’: 10am 1 December [all fields; all levels]
Opportunity to run an activity at ‘Big Wildlife Fair’ in Bristol: 18 February 2012 [all fields; all levels]
Bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curricula to life through public engagement: 1 March 2012 [STEM; all levels]

Other news

Presentations available from AHRC Public Engagement in the Arts and Humanities 2011 workshop [Arts & Humanities; all levels]

University of Bristol engagement

1. Invitation to join a working group on paying service users for participation in health research
The University of Bristol is part of a new collaboration 'People and Research South West' which is an initiative to support researchers to involve the public in health and social care research, and to support the public in getting involved. This is a partnership of NHS organisations, the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. One of the issues that the initiative is working on is that of paying the public (service users) for their participation in research projects. Advice from the steering group is that organisations within the group do not have a consistent (or in some cases, any) policies on payments and expenses for patients in health-related research projects. The group is looking to assemble a working group to scope out the options in this area with a view to possibly creating some guidelines for participating organisations and others. The University's representation in the debate on this important issue would be highly valued. If you would be interested in joining the working group please contact Fiona Hyland, Centre for Public Engagement, on email: fiona.hyland@bristol.ac.uk tel: (0117) 33 18324.

Funding

1. The Wellcome Trust - Arts Awards (UK): large grants deadline 16 Dec; small grants deadline 28 Jan
The Wellcome Trust is inviting organisations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards. The Arts Awards support projects that engage the public with biomedical science through the arts including dance, drama, performance arts, visual arts, music, film, craft, photography, creative writing or digital media. Applications are invited for projects of up to £30,000 through their small & medium-sized grant programme, and for projects above £30,000 through their large grant programme. The aim of the awards is to support arts projects that reach new audiences which may not traditionally be interested in science and provide new ways of thinking about the social, cultural and ethical issues around contemporary science. The scheme is open to a wide range of people including, among others, artists, scientists, curators, filmmakers, writers, producers, directors, academics, science communicators, teachers, arts workers and education officers. Further information from web:
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funding-schemes/Arts-Awards/index.htm

Events

1. Invitation to the national launch of ‘A Bristol Curriculum’: 10am 1 December
Julie Finch, Director of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives, would like to invite you to the national launch of A Bristol Curriculum at M Shed on Thursday 1st December 2011, 10am - 12.30pm. A Bristol Curriculum is a new model for locally-relevant learning. It uses the power of museum collections to bring to life inspiring BRISTOL examples of the people, places and events that connect us to the big ideas of our world - right here in our city. Please let us know if you are able to attend contacting Jane Hack, Learning Officer jane.hack@bristol.gov.uk by Monday 28th November. If you have not replied by this date and would still like to come, please telephone M Shed Reception on 0117 3526600 on the day of the launch.

2. Opportunity to run an activity at ‘Big Wildlife Fair’ in Bristol: 18 February 2012
To coincide with the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 Exhibition, Bristol City Museum will be hosting a 'Big Wildlife Fair' on Saturday 18th February. Perhaps you would like to run an engagement activity to represent your wildlife-related research project at the Fair? Trestle tables will be distributed throughout every floor and gallery within the museum. For further information and to sign up please contact Rhian Rowson, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, tel: 0117 9223598, email: rhian.rowson@bristol.gov.uk

3. Bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curricula to life through public engagement: 1 March 2012
Organised by the National HE STEM Programme and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement registration for this event opens early December with speakers and workshop list to be announced shortly.
Venue: Aston Conference Centre, University of Aston
Further information from web:
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/bringing-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem-curricula-life-t

Other news

1. Presentations available from AHRC Public Engagement in the Arts and Humanities 2011 workshop
The AHRC held a one-day event in central London on the 27th October that explored how academics, researchers and professionals in the arts and humanities and the wider cultural sector can engage the public in innovative and meaningful ways. Speakers included Professor Sarah Churchwell, (Professor of Public Understanding of the Humanities at UEA), Professor Mark Llewellyn (Strathclyde University), Sophie Duncan (Deputy Director of the NCCPE) and Philip Pothen (AHRC), among others. Presentations and resources from the day are now available from web:
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Events/Pages/PEintheArtsandHumanities2011.aspx

Invitation to contribute to online training materials in Public Engagement - 8 Dec 2011

2011-11-22T09:26:00.009Z

The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement have partnered HE STEM to develop online training materials for researchers who want to engage with the public. The online training materials are targeted at people who are relatively new to public engagement and will provide an introduction to some of the key skills and knowledge that are essential to doing effective public engagement.
They are looking for undergraduates, masters students, PhDs, academics and experts from range of disciplines to talk about their public engagement work. The focus of the videos will be key skills for public engagement, and encouraging contributors to reflect on those skills, what works, what have they learnt and what mistakes they have made.
They are looking for volunteers to take part in short video interviews on Thursday 8th December. Filming location will be confirmed shortly, but it is likely to be a central location in Bristol. The videos will be shot by Picnic Films who specialise in making fun, simple and spontaneous videos that value the contributors, and get the best from their knowledge and experience. You can see some examples of their work here: http://www.picnicfilms.co.uk/?page_id=27
Please email melanie@melaniewindridge.co.uk if you are interested in taking part.

Of cakes and elephants – communicating environmental issues

2011-11-18T12:03:00.001Z

A reflectionfrom the Communicate conference held on 2^nd and 3^rd November:

“Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall beno more cakes and ale?” Thus speaks SirToby Belch in Twelfth Night, my favourite of all Shakespeare’s plays. But it was interesting to hear these wordsquoted by Professor Aubrey Manning, the eminent zoologist, at the Communicateconference held in Bristol the other day. Rather than facing a prim and slightly self-righteous Malvolio, he was facingthe equally unappealing prospect of how to communicate difficult environmentalissues – the so-called elephant in the room. A suggestion came from an audience member that the Queen should not beallowed to ship in 500 (or so) horses from around the world for the Olympicsbecause of the environmental impact this will cause, especially consideringthat horses aren’t exactly thin on the ground in the UK.

But this is just an extreme example of theissues that all of us face when thinking about our choices in the future. Will we have to give up our treasuredpossessions such as the classic cars that Professor Manning admits to being hisvice? Or will it be a lifestyle change –relinquishing the idea that we have a right and the means to have a cheapholiday in the sun? The idea that lifein the future is going to be very different in terms of aspirations, not tomention action, was a major facet of the Elephant in the Room discussion. But it also ran through the conversationsduring the rest of the day, in particular the Living with Environmental Change sessionon communicating across sectors. Ourtable struggled to describe examples of effective communication across sectors,especially when communicating scenarios for future behaviour as individuals.

It seems that many of us, especially those ofus who have worked in or alongside those in this research area, are aware ofwhat must be done to minimise our environmental impact. But that doesn’t mean that we are necessarilyable to face up to action ourselves. Can we really come to terms with the factthat, some day, there may be no more cakes and ale?

Kate Miller (Academic Liaison Officer)

Engagers' Digest 4/11/11

2011-11-01T13:16:00.028Z

We have a new addition to the Centre for Public Engagement team, Dr Kate Miller has recently taken over the role of Academic Liaison Officer replacing Philippa Bayley and is the first point of contact for academics. She was previously at the Research Councils where she managed EPSRC's public engagement activities as well as doing a stint in the Science in Society team at ESRC. She is looking forward to meeting everyone over the coming months.

Here is the early November edition of Engagers’ Digest.

Please cascade this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues.
In this edition of the Digest:

University of Bristol engagement

University of Bristol workshop on public engagement and the REF: 15 November 2011 [all fields]
Staff Development courses: various dates [all fields; all levels]
The Art of Science exhibition: 17 November 2011, 5-6 pm [all fields; all levels]
Music for outreach projects [all fields; all levels]
Children of the 90s art exhibition: 10am – 5pm 3 December 2011 [all fields; all levels]

Funding

Institute of Physics - Public Engagement Grant Programme (UK) deadline 7 November 2011 [physics; all levels]
AHRC call for Research Development Awards: Research for Community Heritage, under the Connected Communities Programme – deadline 6 December [Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences]
Connected Communities Programme: other calls [Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences; all levels]

Events & event proposals

National HE STEM programme event ‘Student involvement in STEM activities: is it a good idea, what works and how can we make it better?’: 14 November 2011 [STEM; all levels]
Science Communication Conference 2012: deadline for session proposals 25 November 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Impact and Engagement Museums Conference: call for session proposals deadline 27 November 2011 [all fields]
NCCPE Engage 2011 29-30 November 2011 – last chance to register [all fields; all levels]
People and Research South West training ‘Working together on research’: 8 December 2011 [health; all levels]

Other news

Online Media Group for Science [STEM; all levels]

University of Bristol engagement

1. University of Bristol workshop on public engagement and the REF: 15 November 2011
This workshop is relevant for: impact directors, academics who are thinking of putting forward a case study that has a large public engagement component, impact expert support team. The session will cover how impact through public engagement can be described and evidenced for the REF. It will be led by Maggie Leggett, Head of the Centre for Public Engagement, who worked closely with the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and HEFCE to develop the discussion paper that was made available to REF panels to help them develop their guidelines on public engagement. The workshop will include an update on current thinking and an opportunity to discuss case studies in groups.
Date: Tuesday 15 November, 2-4 pm
Venue: University precinct; details will be circulated to attendees.
To register, please email amanda.edmondson@bristol.ac.uk
Further details are available from Maggie Leggett, maggie.leggett@bristol.ac.uk

2. Staff Development courses: various dates
University of Bristol staff may be interested in the following courses:

Plain English for research communications
Introduction to the media parts 1 and 2
In the spotlight - communicating with different audiences
Science writing for popular publication

Further information from:
Web http://www.bris.ac.uk/staffdevelopment/academicstaff/

3. The Art of Science exhibition: 5-6 pm 17 November 2011
A wine reception and prize-giving hosted by Sir Michael Berry. Come and see a science-inspired art exhibition, from researchers here at the University including all the entries from the 2011 competition. All welcome!
Venue: E29 foyer, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk
Web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fmvs/artofscience

4. Music for outreach projects
Original music can enhance public engagement work such as exhibits, lectures, films and podcasts. Jean Hasse from the Department of Music has composed music for several other departments in the University - see web: http://visible-music.com/jh_UnivProjects.htm
Jean also helps University of Bristol MA composers find additional scoring projects (films, website films, computer games) in her role as Tutor for the MA in Composition for Film and Television course. Hear samples of her music on 17 November in the Medical Sciences Building, accompanying the Art of Science exhibition (see item above).
Email: j.hasse@bristol.ac.uk

5. Children of the 90s art exhibition: 10am – 5pm 3 December 2011
As a prequel to its 21st birthday in 2012, ALSPAC will be hosting an exhibition that celebrates the best of ALSPAC, based on stories (told through words, images and video) from everyone connected with the world-renowned study. From 12-4pm on the day, ALSPAC researchers will be on hand to discuss their research on topics ranging from asthma, diet and genetics to sexual health, smoking and psychosis. The event has been programmed as part of the Wellcome Trust's 75th anniversary celebrations.
Venue: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RN. Admission free, no booking required. For further information contact Dara O’Hare tel: 0117 3310077
email: dara.ohare@bristol.ac.uk web: http://mshed.org/

Funding

1. Institute of Physics - Public Engagement Grant Programme (UK) deadline 7 November 2011
We distributed this opportunity in the September Digest so this is just a reminder. The first round of the 2012 Public Engagement Grant from the Institute of Physics is open for applications. The grants are worth up to £1000 and aim to support physics-based outreach activities in the UK and Ireland throughout 2012. Activities should provide engaging experiences of physics to public audiences.
web: http://www.iop.org/about/grants/outreach/page_38843.html
email: physics.society@iop.org

2. AHRC call for Research Development Awards: Research for Community Heritage, under the Connected Communities Programme – deadline 6 December
The Centre for Public Engagement is currently scoping interest in this call, and will provide support for the organisation of open days etc. that is required. If you are interested in being involved, please contact Kate Miller, Academic Liaison Officer, email: kate.miller@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 3318321.
Working closely with the Heritage Lottery Fund, and potentially other partners, the aim of this initiative is to catalyse and develop sustainable links between expertise in research organisations in the area of community histories and heritage and relevant community groups. It is expected that this will lead to the development of innovative collaborative or co-produced community heritage research projects led by community groups.
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundingOpportunities/Pages/CCResDevAwardsResearchCommunityHeritage.aspx

3. Connected Communities Programme: other calls

ESRC/AHRC Tender for Public Dialogue activity – deadline 22 November http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/17540/latest-opportunity-5.aspx

Supplementary call for scoping studies and reviews focused on Arts and Humanities perspectives on communities – deadline 24 November. This open call aims to add value to the current portfolio of Programme activities by developing further the distinctive perspectives that arts and humanities can bring to our understanding of communities and connectivity, and bring these perspectives to the forefront of wider cross-disciplinary research and debates that have tended become dominated by social science and other perspectives. http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/FundingOpportunities/Pages/CCScopingStudiesAandHPerspectivesonCommunities.aspx

ESRC/AHRC Tender to evaluate the one day Public Dialogue activity – deadline 29 November
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/17540/latest-opportunity-6.aspx

ESRC Community Engagement and Mobilisation – deadline 14 December. The ESRC in funding partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), working together under the Connected Communities Programme, invite outline proposals for two large research grants in the area of community engagement and mobilisation. http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/17540/latest-opportunity-5.aspx

Events & courses / calls for event proposals

1. National HE STEM programme event ‘Student involvement in STEM activities: is it a good idea, what works and how can we make it better?’ 14 November 2011
Through involvement in STEM outreach activities, students gain the experience in communicating their subject to a broad audience, equipping them with important skills for the future and motivating them in their studies. At the same time, the audiences they communicate to, often young people, find the experience of working with young and enthusiastic students a fantastic way of learning STEM material. Student involvement in such activities is now an important part of many university outreach programmes, with a variety of models being used, some offering degree credit and some offering financial reward. The purpose of this workshop is to compare and share good practice in student involvement and to see how we can work together to develop even more effective schemes in the future.
Venue: Wolfson Lecture Theatre, 4 West Building, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
To register visit web:
http://www.hestem.ac.uk/event/he-stem-event/student-involvement
For other events offered by the programme see
web: http://www.hestem.ac.uk/events

2. Science Communication Conference 2012: deadline for session proposals 25 November 2011
The next Science Communication Conference is 14-15 May 2012 at Kings Place, London and proposals for sessions are now invited. Proposals can be on any topic relating to public engagement but proposals on this year's Conference theme of 'Impact' are particularly welcome. The theme aims to discuss the various ways to measure impact of public engagement activities as well as how scientists will consider the impact agenda of their research. Also proposals are invited under the following broad themes: cultural differences; evaluation; working with business; working with volunteers. To submit a proposal visit web:
http://survey.britishscienceassociation.org/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=l4ML5l4
Further information from web:
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ScienceinSociety/ScienceCommunicationConference/Call_for_proposals.htm

3. Impact and Engagement Museums Conference: call for session proposals deadline 27 November 2011
The Universities Museums Group and the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement have joined forces to develop a one day conference looking at Impact and Engagement in relation to public engagement in museums. They are currently inviting proposals for taster case studies for this conference, on the 7 February 2012 in Newcastle.
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/call-proposals-impact-and-evaluation-museums-conference

4. NCCPE Engage 2011 29-30 November 2011 – last chance to register
Venue: The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Further information web: www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/engage-2011-making-impact
To register visit: https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/nccpe/engage2011/

5. People and Research South West training ‘Working together on research’: 8 December 2011
People and Research South West is a collaborative initiative to support researchers to involve the public in health and social care research, and to support the public in getting involved. We are a partnership of NHS organisations, the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. This half day course is intended for both researchers and members of the public involved in research. We will define and discuss the concept of ‘working together’, and also consider wider factors that influence which research projects are conducted. The training will be co-facilitated by Christine Donald (Research Partner), Anne-Laure Donskoy (Research Partner) and Dr Katherine Pollard (Researcher).
Date: 2-5 pm 8 December 2011
Venue: Glenside Campus, University of the West of England, Blackberry Hill, Stapleton,
Bristol, BS16 1DD. Attendance free but booking is required in advance.
Web: http://hls.uwe.ac.uk/suci/people-and-research-south-west.aspx
Email: catrin.richards@uwe.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)117 3288809

Other news

1. Online Media Group for Science
Online Media Group for Science is a new site for collecting a series of case studies to explore how different people and organisations use online media to communicate science with a range of audiences. The case studies are intended to be honest and interesting examples of how people and organisations have used online media - what has or hasn’t worked, and why. The site is being curated by a varied group of online users, science journalists, communicators, press officers, academics and policy makers with a common interest in helping everyone to get the most from using online media to reach new audiences. There are four easy ways of getting involved: discuss the posts; recommend organisations or people you think would make good case studies; share your story about how you use online media by using the comments section beneath a post; or provide a new case study for the site.
Web: http://www.omg-science.org.uk/

Engagers' Digest 12/10/11

2011-10-12T15:03:00.027+01:00

In this edition of the Digest:

University of Bristol engagement

Centre for Public Engagement – Engage 2011 slides [all fields; all levels]
InsideArts festival including public discussion ‘Art for art’s sake’: 7.30 pm, 20 October 2011, Watershed [all fields; all levels]
University of Bristol workshop on public engagement and the REF: 15 November 2011 [all fields]
Calls for student nominations, Convocation Awards: deadline 4 November 2011 [all fields; students]
The Art of Science exhibition: 17 November 2011, 5-6 pm [all fields; all levels]

Funding

JISC Grant Funding: embedding impact analysis good practice in research using business and community engagement practitioners: deadline 31 October 2011 [all fields; all levels]
AHRC/ESRC Connected Communities Programme – call to tender to develop a public dialogue activity: deadline 22 November 2011 [Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences]
AHRC/ESRC Joint Call ‘Community Engagement and Mobilisation’: deadline 14 December 2011 [Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences]
European Commission call for proposals “Researchers’ Night 2012”: deadline 10 January 2012 [all fields; all levels]
Science in Society work programme – call for proposals ‘Mobilisation and Mutual Learning Action Plan’: deadline 22 February 2012 [all fields; all levels]

Events & courses

NCCPE Engage 2011 29-30 November 2011 – programme now available [all fields; all levels]
AHRC event ‘Public Engagement in the Arts and Humanities’: 27 October 2011, London [Arts, Humanities; all levels]
STEM Outreach Practitioners CoP event ‘Outreach and Widening Participation in Practice: Sharing Activities and Ideas across STEM Disciplines’: 2 November 2011 [STEM; all levels]
Communicate 2011 ‘Nature, People, Economics’: 2-3 November 2011 [all fields; all levels]
University of Warwick Seminar Series ‘Questionnaires as a method of evaluating impacts of public engagement and non-formal learning’: 16 November 2011 [all fields; all levels]
The Royal Society’s Local Heroes programme – a workshop on 22 November 2011, Bristol [all fields; all levels]
People and Research South West training ‘An introduction to public involvement in research’: 22 November 2011 [health; all levels]
Science Communication Conference – dates announced as 14-15 May 2012; Kings Place, London [STEM; all levels]

Other news

School Science Cafes outreach opportunity [STEM; all levels]
Call for submission of articles to new journal: DEMESCI [all fields; all levels]
INVOLVE membership applications: deadline 31 October 2011 [health; all levels]
BNHC - Media and Heritage Placement Opportunity: deadline 11 November 2011 [Heritage; all levels]

University of Bristol engagement

1. Centre for Public Engagement – Engage 2011
The slides of the presentations made by all the speakers at Engage 2011 are now available,
web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/staff/training/engage2011.html

2. InsideArts festival including public discussion ‘Art for art’s sake’: 7.30 pm, 20 October 2011, Watershed
There are just a few days remaining until the University of Bristol’s first Festival of the Arts and Humanities.
The Festival ends with a public discussion ‘Art for art’s sake’ to discuss the role of the Arts and Humanities in society? To book
email: insidearts-watershed@bristol.ac.uk tel: +44 (0)117 9288515
The full InsideArts programme can be viewed at
web: http://bristol.ac.uk/inside-arts/programme

3. University of Bristol workshop on public engagement and the REF: 15 November 2011
This workshop is relevant for: impact directors, academics who are thinking of putting forward a case study that has a large public engagement component, impact expert support team.
The session will cover how impact through public engagement can be described and evidenced for the REF. It will be led by Maggie Leggett, Head of the Centre for Public Engagement, who worked closely with the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and HEFCE to develop the discussion paper that was made available to REF panels to help them develop their guidelines on public engagement. The workshop will include an update on current thinking and an opportunity to discuss case studies in groups.
Date: Tuesday 15 November, 2-4 pm
Venue: University precinct; details will be circulated to attendees.
To register, please email amanda.edmondson@bristol.ac.uk
Further details are available from Maggie Leggett, maggie.leggett@bristol.ac.uk

4. Calls for student nominations, Convocation Awards: deadline 4 November 2011
Celebrate the success of a student (UG and PG) who has made a positive contribution to university life by nominating them for a Convocation Award. The 2011 Awards will be announced at the Convocation Reception on 8 December 2011 and the winners will each receive a £500 prize. The award may be given for any field and can include public engagement with more details and the application procedure from
web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/get-involved/groups/convocation/awards/
The closing date for nominations is Friday 4 November 2011.

5. The Art of Science exhibition: 5-6 pm 17 November 2011
A wine reception and prize-giving hosted by Sir Michael Berry. Come and see a science-inspired art exhibition, from researchers here at the University including all the entries from the 2011 competition. All welcome!
Venue: E29 foyer, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk
Web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/fmvs/artofscience

Funding

1. JISC Grant Funding: embedding impact analysis good practice in research using business and community engagement practitioners: deadline 31 October 2011
Up to £240,000 available for 8 projects of up to £30,000 each and 6 months duration starting from January 2012. Further information from
web: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2011/09/grantcall15_11.aspx

2. AHRC/ESRC Connected Communities Programme – call to tender to develop a public dialogue activity: deadline 22 November 2011
Up to £15,000 to be awarded inclusive of VAT. Further details from
web: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/17540/latest-opportunity-6.aspx

3. AHRC/ESRC Joint Call ‘Community Engagement and Mobilisation’: deadline 14 December 2011
The AHRC, in funding partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), working together under the Connected Communities Programme, have issued a joint call for outline proposals for two large research grants (up to £2.4m fec each) in the area of community engagement and mobilisation. It is expected that one large grant, drawing on insights from across the social sciences and arts and humanities will be made in each of the following areas: Making of Engagement and Regulation of Engagement.
Web: http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/17540/latest-opportunity-6.aspx

4. European Commission call for proposals “Researchers’ Night 2012”: deadline 10 January 2012
The Researchers' Night will be an occasion for a European-wide public and media event for the promotion of research careers. Activities should to be focused on the public at large, and feature researchers being actively involved and directly in contact with the public.
Web: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/people?callIdentifier=FP7-PEOPLE-2012-NIGHT

5. Science in Society work programme – call for proposals ‘Mobilisation and Mutual Learning Action Plan’: deadline 22 February 2012
This call aims to finance Mobilisation and Mutual Learning Action Plans on Societal Challenges under 3 themes: Synthetic biology; ‘Human enhancement’ technologies; Healthy and active aging.
A brochure is available at web:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/document_library/pdf_06/mobilisation-mutual-learning-work-programme-2012_en.pdf
Further information from web:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/science-society/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.topic&id=1221

Events & courses

1. NCCPE Engage 2011 29-30 November 2011 – programme now available
Venue: The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Further information web:
www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/engage-2011-making-impact
To register visit: https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/nccpe/engage2011/

2. AHRC event ‘Public Engagement in the Arts and Humanities’: 27 October 2011, London
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) invites you to a one-day event in London to examine both the strategic and the practical challenges for researchers working in the arts and humanities wanting to engage with the public.
The event will also include a session on an upcoming AHRC call on public and community engagement (Research for Community Heritage), part of the Connected Communities programme. In addition, the results of the 2011 AHRC survey on public engagement in the arts and humanities will be presented for the first time.
Date: 10am – 4pm, 27 October 2011
Venue: Avonmouth House, London
Register by 19 October at
web: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AHRCPE
Further information at web: http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Events/Pages/PEintheArtsandHumanities2011.aspx

3. STEM Outreach Practitioners CoP event ‘Outreach and Widening Participation in Practice: Sharing Activities and Ideas across STEM Disciplines’: 2 November 2011
This one day workshop, supported by the National HE STEM Programme, and organised by the University of Exeter, will explore how higher and further educational institutions, schools, professional bodies and other STEM-related organisations can work together to raise pupils’ aspirations, engage pupils in STEM subjects and encourage increased participation in HE.
With a practical focus, this workshop is intended primarily for two audiences: those considering engaging in Outreach and/or WP activities and wishing to find out more about such work; and those already involved in such activities and who would like to review or evaluate their activities.
The event is free to attend but places are limited to 60, and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Date: 10am - 4pm, 2 November 2011
Venue: At-Bristol, Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5BD
To register visit web:
http://www.hestem.ac.uk/event/he-stem-event/outreach-and-widening-participation-practice-sharing-activities-and-ideas-across
For a listing of all the events in this series see web: http://www.hestem-sw.org.uk/news-and-events/events/

4. Communicate 2011 ‘Nature, People, Economics’: 2-3 November 2011
Communicate is the annual conference for environmental communicators – bringing together a mix of NGO’s, media professionals, business/CSR, academics and policy makers. Get informed and get involved with the crucial current and upcoming debates in the sector, and get direct feedback on your own communication campaigns.
Venue: The Council House, College Green, BS1 5TR
Web: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/communicate.html
Email: Ben Connor ben@bnhc.org.uk

5. University of Warwick Seminar Series ‘Questionnaires as a method of evaluating impacts of public engagement and non-formal learning’: 16 November 2011
Bringing together engagement, learning and communication practitioners, evaluators and academic researchers with a shared interest in 'impact'. This seminar will offer insights into the ways in which questionnaires can be used to access a wide range of outcomes. It also offers 'top tips' that every consumer or producer of questionnaire-based evidence of impacts should know. Date: 11am – 4pm 16 November 2011 Cost: £75 including lunch
Register at: web:
https://jensen.wufoo.com/forms/evaluating-impacts-seminar-series-registration/

6. The Royal Society’s Local Heroes programme – a workshop on 22 November 2011, Bristol
Aimed primarily at smaller organisations that traditionally do not have a science focus, such as museums, galleries, archives and libraries this opportunity may be of relevance to some readers. The focus is on developing science activities for schools. Admission is free.
Venue: SS Great Britain
To book visit: http://royalsociety.org/education/local-heroes/
Email: education@royalsociety.org

7. People and Research South West training ‘An introduction to public involvement in research’: 22 November 2011
People and Research South West is a collaborative initiative to support researchers to involve the public in health and social care research, and to support the public in getting involved. We are a partnership of NHS organisations, the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. This half day course is intended for researchers who would like to involve members of the public in their research projects more effectively. We will consider different models of involvement including how the public can be involved on research panels, advisory groups, as research partners, peer researchers and user-led research. The training will be co-facilitated by Professor David Evans and Research Partner, Rosemary Davies, of the University of the West of England.
Date: 2-5 pm 22 November 2011
Venue: University Hospitals Bristol Education Centre, Upper Maudlin Street, BS2 8AE. Attendance free but booking is required in advance.
Web: http://hls.uwe.ac.uk/suci/people-and-research-south-west.aspx
Email: catrin.richards@uwe.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)117 3288809

8. Science Communication Conference – dates announced as 14-15 May 2012; Kings Place, London
A call for proposals will follow shortly.
web: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/ScienceCommunicationConference

Other news

1. School Science Cafes outreach opportunity
Would you like to share your passion and enthusiasm with the next generation of scientists, engineers and mathematicians? The Gordano School Science Cafes have been running for two years and are always well attended by interested 14 to 16 year olds from North Somerset schools. The format is the same as normal science cafes; a 20 minute presentation by an expert (you!), followed by a short break for refreshments, before finishing with a question and answer session. So if you’re a scientist, engineer or mathematician looking to reach young people in the local area and would like to deliver a science café 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: +44 (0)1275 885301.

2. Call for submission of articles to new journal: DEMESCI
The Journal of Deliberative Mechanisms in Science (DEMESCI) is an interdisciplinary journal that publishes articles about the relationship between science and the rest of society. Specifically, the journal is dedicated to the mechanisms and methodologies that allow the public to participate in scientific decision-making. The first issue will be available in February 2012.
email: demesci@revistashipatia.com
web: http://www.revistashipatia.com/index.php/demesci

3. INVOLVE membership applications: deadline 31 October 2011
INVOLVE has a key national role supporting public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. They are looking for people with an understanding and experience of public involvement in research to become members and join their Working Groups. The deadline for making an application for membership of INVOVE is 12 noon on Monday 31st October 2011. Further information from
web: http://www.invo.org.uk/Membership.asp
email: membership@invo.org.uk tel: +44 (0) 2380 651088

4. BNHC - Media and Heritage Placement Opportunity: deadline 11 November 2011
The Bristol Natural History Consortium has been awarded a four year grant (2010-2014) from Heritage Lottery Fund to deliver short placements training new media skills in a heritage context. Applications are now open for the third placement, which will take place from January– June, 2012. Placements are full-time in the BNHC office and trainees receive a monthly bursary stipend of £1200. For further details and an application form please visit
web: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/about/skills.html Email: sarah@bnhc.org.uk

JISC funding for embedding impact analysis

2011-09-23T11:47:00.004+01:00

JISC Grant Funding: embedding impact analysis good practice in research using business and community engagement practitioners.

Deadline for proposals 12:00 noon UK time on 31 October 2011.
Up to £240,000 available for 8 projects of up to £30,000 each and 6 months duration starting from January 2012.

The Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) has just launched a new funding call to encourage skills sharing between researchers, engagement practitioners and information management specialists. The project, which will be facilitated by the NCCPE, focuses on the highly topical area of research impact. It invites people to form partnerships to synthesise and
share learning about how to embed technology-enabled good practice in impact analysis in research departments, using the expertise of Business and Community Engagement staff.

Further information from:
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/fundingopportunities/funding_calls/2011/09/Grant%20Call%2015_11.aspx

Engagers’ Digest – 19/9/11

2011-09-19T10:30:00.031+01:00

Here is the September edition of Engagers’ Digest. Please cascade this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues.

In this edition of the Digest:

University of Bristol engagement

Centre for Public Engagement – Engage 2011 and Discover 2012 [all fields; all levels]
Talk – ‘Will the real science please stand up?’ - 7 October 2011 3 pm [STEM; all levels]
InsideArts – The University of Bristol Festival of the Arts and Humanities 18-20 October 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Poetry Translation Competition for students: submission deadline 30 September 2011 [all fields; students]
Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2012: proposals deadline 24 October 2011 [STEM; all levels]
Volunteers to talk to Bristol's older people [all fields; all levels]
Volunteers for Black History Day on 1 November 2011 [Arts & Humanities and Education; all levels]

Funding

RCUK – update on Catalysts public engagement funding [all fields; all levels]
Association of Art Historians - Museum bursary: deadline 19 November 2011 [AAH members; all levels]
Institute of Physics Public Engagement Grant Scheme 2012 – deadline 7 November 2011 [physics; all levels]

Events & courses

Ri training ‘How to engage with 7 to 11 year olds’: 24 September 2011 [STEM; all levels]
Public Engagement Workshops for EPSRC-funded researchers: 30 September 2011 [EPSRC-funded researchers]
National Science & Engineering Week Info Sessions – 5 October 2011 [STEM; all levels]
Communicate 2011 ‘Nature, People, Economics’: 2-3 November 2011 [all fields; all levels]
FameLab science communication competition: 12 November 2011 [STEM; all levels]
NCCPE Engage 2011 29-30 November 2011 – registration now open [all fields; all levels]
Community of Practice for STEM Outreach and WP Practitioners - Shadowing Scheme [STEM; all levels]
Bright Club Bristol: volunteers needed [all fields; all levels]

Internships & placements

ESRC Cabinet Office internship: closing date 30 September 2011 [social sciences; ESRC PhD award holders]
ESRC Home Office (UK Border Agency) internship: closing date 30 September 2011 [social sciences; ESRC PhD award holders]
STFC/POST postgraduate placement scheme: closing date 10 October 2011 [STEM; STFC PhD students]
MRC Policy internship scheme: closing date 31 October 2011 [medical research; MRC PhD students]

University of Bristol engagement

1. Centre for Public Engagement
Engage 2011 - Just a few days to go until the University’s Engage conference on 29 September so if you’d like to make a last minute registration visit web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/staff/training/engage2011.html

Discover 2012: Thursday 8 March – Saturday 10 March
Discover is a free, hands-on festival of research that takes place in the heart of Bristol. It is an opportunity for members of the public to come and meet University of Bristol students and academics, to discuss the latest research happening in the city, and get involved in a whole host of demonstrations, challenges and experiments. The aim is to inspire and enthuse local people with University of Bristol research, and open up discussions about the current cutting-edge work and discoveries made in their city.
If you would like to get involved, or are planning your own public event around this time and would like to link with Discover, please contact Dane Comerford on dane.comerford@bristol.ac.uk, tel: +44 (0) 117 3318315

2. Talk – ‘ Will the real science please stand up?’ - 7 October 2011 3pm
A lecture on public engagement with science by Dr Michael Brooks. This lecture will explore the truth about science and scientists and the implications for public engagement with science on fronts as diverse as the media, education, climate change and chats in the pub. Michael Brooks is a New Scientist consultant and the author of Free Radicals: The Secret Anarchy of Science and 13 Things That Don’t Make Sense: The Most Intriguing Scientific Mysteries of our Times.
Venue: Lecture Theatre A1.4, School of Medical Sciences. Admission free.
Further information: phil.langton@bristol.ac.uk

3. InsideArts – The University of Bristol Festival of the Arts and Humanities: 18-20 October 2011
The Arts Faculty is holding the University of Bristol's first Arts Festival, InsideArts. There will be three keynote lectures on themes central to the Arts Faculty, and a range of complementary events and activities such as public talks and workshops, musical performance and a screening of student films.

The Festival culminates in a public discussion at the Watershed on 20 October 7.30 pm - Art for art’s sake? - chaired by Professor Jon Keating, Dean of Science, in which three academics from the Faculty of Arts and three external speakers address the issue of why Arts and Humanities matter.
Further information from web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/festival tel: +44 (0)117 92 88515, email: inside-arts@bristol.ac.uk

4. Poetry Translation Competition for students: submission deadline 30 September 2011
Fancy your hand at translating poetry? Then why not put your language skills into practice and enter our poetry translation competition. Run as part of the University’s InsideArts festival and open to students at Bristol, Bath and Exeter Universities, the results will be announced at a public event during the festival on 19 October. Modern and classical languages, and British Sign Language are all accepted. Submission deadline: 30 September 2011.
For further information, please see
web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/festival/poetry-competition.html and http://www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/festival/programme/#poetry-workshop

5. Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2012: proposals deadline 24 October 2011
Would you like the opportunity to promote your research to a wide public audience and other key influencers? Each year the Royal Society selects teams from the cutting edge of UK science and technology to showcase their research. The 2012 Summer Science Exhibition will take place from 3 -8 July; why not submit a proposal to be one of the exhibitors in 2012?

For further information see http://royalsociety.org/How-to-exhibit/
Deadline for proposals is Monday 24 October 2011.
Please contact Dane Comerford at the Centre for Public Engagement if you have an idea for an exhibit and are considering applying – we can help you with your proposal, applying for funding and project management; dane.comerford@bristol.ac.uk, tel (0117) 3318315.

6. Volunteer to talk to Bristol's older people
The Students' Union and LinkAge Bristol are looking for volunteers to talk to local older people's groups about fascinating topics (be they academic subjects, personal interests or areas of expertise). If you think you could deliver a talk in an accessible and enjoyable way, and for more information, please email: rachel.miller@bristol.ac.uk.

7. Volunteers for Black History Day on 1 November 2011
The Students’ Union is running a Black History Day on 1 November for school students from 3 local schools. The day will include cultural (music, drama, dance) events and educational workshops. If anybody would like to get involved; to run a workshop, talk or session for year 7 and 8 students that broadly fits the theme of Black History Month, we would love to hear from them. For more information, please email: rachel.miller@bristol.ac.uk.

Funding

1. RCUK – update on Catalysts funding
For information: you may have seen the RCUK call for funding ‘Public Engagement with Research: Catalysts’. We have been informed that the University of Bristol will not be eligible for this funding as Bristol was part of the original Beacons for Public Engagement initiative.

2. Institute of Physics Public Engagement Grant Scheme 2012 – deadline 7 November 2011
The first round of the 2012 Public Engagement Grant from the Institute of Physics is now open for applications. The grants are worth up to £1000 and aim to support physics-based outreach activities in the UK and Ireland throughout 2012. Activities should provide engaging experiences of physics to public audiences. web: http://www.iop.org/activity/outreach/
email: physics.society@iop.org.

3. Association of Art Historians - Museum bursary: deadline 19 November 2011
This scheme aims to create a cross-dialogue between university-level teachers and researchers and museum and gallery curators, and to promote art historical research and its dissemination in museums and galleries through collaboration and individual awards. Awards are tenable for a maximum of 12 months and are worth between £200 and £5,000.
web: http://www.aah.org.uk/page/3248

Events & courses

1. Ri training ‘How to engage with 7 to 11 year olds’: 24 September 2011
The Royal Institution of Great Britain is holding a one day training course to help improve scientists’ and engineers’ abilities to engage with 7-11 year olds. web: http://www.rigb.org/contentControl?action=displayEvent&id=1194

2. Public Engagement Workshops for EPSRC-funded researchers: 30 September 2011
A workshop for full-time academic researchers funded by EPSRC with at least 2 years post-doc research experience. venue: Bristol Zoo web:
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ScienceinSociety/EPSRC_workshops/index.htm
email: events@britishscienceassociation.org

3. National Science & Engineering Week Info Sessions: 5 October 2011
The National Science & Engineering Week (NSEW) takes place next year from 9–18 March 2012 with the theme “our world in motion.” An information session for NSEW is being run in Bristol on date 5 October 2011 at 6 pm. Come along and find out how you can take part. Venue: SS Great Britain, Viridor Theatre, Western Dockyard, BS1 6TY Further information from web:
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/NSEW/AboutNSEW/InfoSessions/index.htm?source=pscicom&creative=infosess2
To register: http://nsew-bristol.eventbrite.com

4. Communicate 2011 ‘Nature, People, Economics’: 2-3 November 2011
Communicate is the annual conference for environmental communicators – bringing together a mix of NGO’s, media professionals, business/CSR, academics and policy makers. Get informed and get involved with the crucial current and upcoming debates in the sector, and get direct feedback on your own communication campaigns. Join us this year for a special focus on:
• The new models of communication –Robin Ince from BBC Radio 4’s Infinite Monkey Cage on using comedy to make a difference
• Reconnecting Nature and Economics – debated by experts from all fields including Futerra, Juliet Davenport of Good Energy, Coca-Cola, RSPB, New Economics Foundation.
• An overview of the Natural Environment White Paper, and a chance to influence the future third sector and policy cooperation of the “Living with Environmental Change” programme.
• Communicating difficult issues – led by Aubrey Manning and Mark Lynas
• The Psychology of Persuasion – with international guests Zoos Victoria presenting their world leading campaign that forever changed the perspective of zoo visitors in Australia.
venue: The Council House, College Green, BS1 5TR
web: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/communicate.html
email: Ben Connor ben@bnhc.org.uk

5. FameLab science communication competition: 12 November 2011
Beacon for Wales is hosting one of six autumn regional heats of FameLab, the UK's biggest competition for new talent to engage the public in science. The Cardiff heat will take place in Chapter Arts Centre on 12 November 2011. The winner of the regional heats will get the chance to take part in a weekend Masterclass with Professor of Science and Society and Science communication, Kathy Sykes, and experienced trainer, specialising in media & communication skills, Malcolm Love before vying for the title of FameLab champion at the National Final on 21 March 2012 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain where they will have the chance to take home £1,750 to further their career. web: http://famelab.org/uk email: beacon@cardiff.ac.uk

6. NCCPE Engage 2011 29-30 November 2011
Registration now open. Venue: The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Further information web:
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/engage-2011-making-impact
To register visit: https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/nccpe/engage2011/

7. Community of Practice for STEM Outreach and WP Practitioners - Shadowing Scheme
On offer from HE STEM is a Shadowing Scheme. A school teacher or FE lecturer can spend a day in a university shadowing a lecturer and/or student on a programme relevant to their discipline. In turn, a member of the university's teaching staff can visit a school/FE college to shadow the teacher/ FE lecturer/student for a day. Thereby providing opportunities for schools, FE colleges and universities to develop more collaborative relationships and provide better support for students in their transition to higher education. The scheme will reimburse reasonable travel and out of pocket expenses in return for reflective evaluations of shadowing activities.
web: http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6767 email: Laura Bonner at m.l.bonner@exeter.ac.uk

8. Bright Club Bristol: volunteers needed
Following the success of Bright Club in London a similar event is being organised for Bristol. Billed as the 'Thinking Person's Variety Night' if you would like to volunteer to take part please contact Hayley Birch on hayley@soundsofscience.co.uk
web: http://www.brightclub.org/

Internships & placements

1. ESRC Cabinet Office internship: closing date 30 September 2011
This joint initiative is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders to undertake an internship at the Cabinet Office working on a topic grounded in the social sciences. Full-time students will receive a funded extension to their award covering the length of the internship and up to a maximum of £3,000 (based on a three-month internship) for travel and accommodation expenses.
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/2364/Student_Internship_Scheme_.aspx

2. ESRC Home Office (UK Border Agency) internship: closing date 30 September 2011
This joint initiative is an opportunity for current ESRC PhD award holders in full-time study or part-time equivalent to undertake an internship at the Home Office working on a topic grounded in the social sciences. The aim of the project will be to contribute evidence to answer key policy or operational questions in the area of UK migration.
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/funding-opportunities/16975/ESRC_and_Home_Office_UK_Border_Agency_internship_initiative_.aspx

3. STFC/POST postgraduate placement scheme: closing date 10 October 2011
The scheme provides an opportunity for a postgraduate to be seconded to the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology to assist in providing objective briefing material for MPs and Peers for a three months period.
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Resources/pdf/2012POSTSTFCApplication.pdf

4. Medical Research Council policy internship scheme: closing date 31 October 2011
Under this scheme, MRC-funded PhD students will have the opportunity to undertake a three-month policy internship at the Academy of Medical Science offices in central London. Students will be supported by a three-month extension to their MRC PhD stipend while they are based at the academy.
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Fundingopportunities/Fellowships/Policyinternshipscheme/MRC008130

Engagers’ Digest – 15/8/11

2011-08-15T09:14:00.010+01:00

Here is the August edition of Engagers’ Digest - please cascade this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues.

In this edition of the Digest:

University of Bristol engagement

University of Bristol Engage Conference: 29 September 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Help us to evaluate our public engagement activities [all fields; all levels]

Funding

The Royal Academy of Engineering – Ingenious funding: closing date 14 October 2011 [engineering; all levels]
ESRC Knowledge Exchange funding: deadline 27 October 2011 [social sciences; all levels]
The Royal Society Partnership Grants – Funding for School’s Science Projects: closing date 4 November 2011 [science/engineering; all levels]
Society for Endocrinology public engagement grant scheme – open for applications

Events & courses / calls for event proposals

NCCPE Engage 2011 - call for case studies & workshops: closing date 30 August 2011 [all fields; all levels]
ASDC Annual Conference – Innovation and widening participation: 15 September 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Edinburgh International Science Festival 13 Mar - 13 Apr 2012: deadline for event proposals 16 September 2011 [science/all fields; all levels]
INVOLVE membership information meeting: 4 October 2011, Bristol [health; all levels]
National Science Learning Centre, Connect 2011-2012: science communication course 20 – 21 October 2011 [science/engineering; early career]
British Science Association - National Science & Engineering Week 2012, 9–18 March: autumn information sessions [science/all fields; all levels]
British Science Festival 2012 – open for event proposals [science/all fields; all levels]

University of Bristol engagement

1. University of Bristol Engage 2011: 29 September 2011 10:30 am - 2:30 pm
Don’t forget to register for Engage - our annual opportunity to discuss, share ideas and meet colleagues and external partners interested in public engagement.

At this year’s half-day event we will hear from Sir Roland Jackson, whose range of experience as Chief Executive of the British Science Association and Chair of the BBSRC Bioscience for Society Strategy Panel will be brought into his plenary presentation ‘Why are we engaging with the public?’ We will have an inspiring series of case studies from across the University; from Engagement Award winner Anne Cooke of Bristol Neuroscience, the University of Local Knowledge project, patient participation in Rheumatology and the Bristol Innocence Project. Engage 2011 will finish with an informal networking lunch that will facilitate people with similar interests coming together to talk.

We hope you will register with your external partners in public engagement - from the heritage, arts, public services, health, charitable and educational sectors. Engage is a great way to introduce them to the University and to potential future collaborators.

Also, if you are interested in convening a smaller meeting or group on a specific engagement topic - international engagement, for example - let Philippa know and she can arrange this.
Email: philippa.bayley@bristol.ac.uk

Venue: Wills Memorial Building Reception Room, Queen’s Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ
Further information from web: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/staff/training/engage2011.html
To register: http://survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/engage_2011

2. Help us to evaluate our public engagement activities How do you think we are doing with engagement at Bristol?
Are we leading the field, or are there areas where we really need to improve as an institution?
The Centre for Public Engagement would appreciate your ideas and input via this short (10 minute) online survey and all those entering will have the chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher.
web: http://survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/edgetool

Funding

1. The Royal Academy of Engineering – Ingenious funding: closing date 14 October 2011
Ingenious is a grant scheme for creative public engagement with engineering projects. The Academy is looking for imaginative ideas that help engineers to communicate their expertise and passion for engineering to a wider audience. They welcome proposals from engineers and engineering organisations and institutions, universities, science and engineering communicators, public engagement specialists, colleges and schools. Funding available from £3,000 to £30,000

Further information from web:
http://www.raeng.org.uk/societygov/public_engagement/ingenious/default.htm

2. ESRC Knowledge Exchange funding: deadline 27 October 2011
The next round of ESRC Knowledge Exchange opportunities will open from the 1st September 2011 until the 27th October 2011. This call is aimed at social science researchers at all stages of their career and at organisations in the business, public and civil society sectors, with the intention of encouraging dialogue and collaboration between these groups.
There will be two schemes:

Knowledge Exchange Opportunities - for knowledge exchange activities at all stages of the research life-cycle aimed at maximising the impact of social science research outside academia.
Follow on Fund - for additional knowledge exchange and impact generating activities to follow on from a specific piece of substantial research that is drawing to an end or has recently finished.

Further information from web:
http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/collaboration/knowledge-exchange/opportunities/index.aspx
email: knowledgeexchange@esrc.ac.uk

3. The Royal Society Partnership Grants - Funding for School's Science Projects: closing date 4 November 2011
The next round of Partnership Grants will open for applications from 5 September – 4 November 2011. Through the scheme grants of between £250 and £3,000 will be available to support teachers, scientists and engineers help develop science projects. Any UK primary or secondary school teacher or practising scientist/engineer can apply as long as the students involved in the project are between 5 and 18. Applications must be made together with the partner, and need to be signed by the teacher, partner and schools' headteacher.

Further information from web:
http://royalsociety.org/education/partnership/

4. Society for Endocrinology public engagement grant scheme – open for applications
If you are a member of the Society for Endocrinology (SfE; but excluding student membership) you can now apply for funding of up to £1000 to organise and host an outreach activity aimed at school children and/or the general public through the SfE new public engagement grant scheme. A limited number of grants are available each year (rounds run from 1 August to 31 July of the following year). Examples of activities that could be funded by the scheme include (but are not limited to): a presentation open to the general public; talking to a classroom of children about endocrinology, careers in science etc.; hosting a stand at a science festival; developing online/video/audio/print resources for the public.

Further information from
web:
http://www.endocrinology.org/grants/grant_publicengagement.html
email: grants@endocrinology.org

Events & courses / calls for event proposals

1. NCCPE Engage 2011 - call for case studies & workshops: closing date 30 August 2011
The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) is inviting proposals for workshops and case studies for their National Conference ‘Public Engagement and the 21st Century University’ being held 29 - 30 November 2011 in Bristol. Workshops should address one or more of the conference themes: Making an impact with your research; Creating an engagement culture; Effective partnerships; Engaging students

Venue: The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Deadline for submissions is 30 August 2011
Bookings for Engage 2011 will open on 1 September 2011
Further information from web:
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/engage-2011-making-impact
email: lisa.adlington@uwe.ac.uk

2. ASDC Annual Conference – Innovation and widening participation: 15 September 2011
The Association for Science and Discovery Centres is holding a conference on 15 September 2011 at Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in Halifax, and runs alongside the British Science Festival just ten minutes away by train in Bradford. Guest speakers include Professor Sir John Holman, Dr Amy Sanders from Wellcome Trust, Dr Robin Clegg from STFC, and Dr Teresa Anderson from Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre. There will also be a variety of speakers at a Pecha Kucha session by those delivering innovative engagement projects.
Admission: £80 for ASDC members and £120 for non-members.

Further information from web:
http://www.sciencecentres.org.uk/agm/index.html

3. Edinburgh International Science Festival 13 Mar - 13 Apr 2012: deadline for event proposals 16 September 2011
Got a fascinating concept to communicate and an exciting way of doing it? Then why not submit your idea for consideration as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival programme in 2012.

Further information from web:
http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/about-us/your-call

4. INVOLVE membership information meeting: 4 October 2011, Bristol
INVOLVE has a key national role supporting public involvement in NHS, public health and social care research. They are looking for people with an understanding and experience of public involvement in research to become members and join their Working Groups. On offer are three free membership information meetings, one of which is in Bristol on 4 October 2011.
The deadline for making an application for membership of INVOLVE is 12 noon on Monday 31st October 2011.

Further information from web:
http://www.invo.org.uk/Membership.asp
email: membership@invo.org.uk tel: 02380 651088

5. National Science Learning Centre, Connect 2011-2012: science communication course 20 – 21 October 2011
Expressions of interest are invited for a course titled ‘Science Communication for a School Teacher Audience’ for early career scientists. It will run at the National Science Learning Centre in York on 20-21 October with a review session on 10-11 May 2012. The course, which is supported by RCUK, is aimed at researchers finishing PhD or in first/second post-doc year, but interest is welcomed from all colleagues.

Further information from web: https://www.sciencelearningcentres.org.uk/centres/national/courses-and-events/35488-47037
email: courses@national.slcs.ac.uk

6. British Science Association - National Science & Engineering Week 2012, 9–18 March: autumn information sessions
At the University of Bristol to coincide with National Science & Engineering Week (NSEW) we run our own event, Discover, in Bristol city centre (further details to follow).
If you would like to find out about what is happening nationally as part of NSEW then you are invited to attend a regional information session, one of which will be run in Bristol (date to be confirmed). The aim of these sessions is to bring together new and existing event organisers to find out about how to take part in the Week and meet potential event partners in your local area.

Further information from web:
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/NSEW/AboutNSEW/InfoSessions/index.htm?source=pscicom&creative=infosess1
email: nsew@britishscienceassociation.org

7. British Science Festival 2012: open for event proposals
The British Science Festival 2012 will be in Aberdeen from 4 – 9 September. You can now submit a proposal to run an event.

Further information from web:
http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/BritishScienceFestival/

Engagers’ Digest – 13/7/11

2011-07-08T11:26:00.027+01:00

First, a quick plug for items 1 and 2 in this Digest: a request from us, the Centre for Public Engagement, to tell us what you think about Bristol as an engaged university, and information about our upcoming 2011 Engage conference.

Also, some welcome news just in from the School of Biological Sciences. In the light of his knowledge and reputation in public engagement, Dr Michael Pocock has been appointed a member of the RCUK Public Engagement with Research Advisory Panel. Michael is running a citizen science project this summer, Conker Tree Science, and willing volunteers of all ages are invited to register for this exciting project (www.ourweboflife.org.uk/).

Please do cascade this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues.

In this edition of the Digest:

1. An engaged university? Your views needed [all fields; all levels]
2. University of Bristol Engage Conference: 29 September 2011 [all fields; all levels]
3. End of Researchers in Residence (RinR) scheme [all fields; RCUK/Wellcome PGR and Postdocs]
4. NCCPE Public Engagement Ambassadors scheme (PEAs): event 26 July 2011 [all fields; all levels]
5. X-change 2011 at the British Science Festival – volunteers needed: deadline 1 August 2011 [sciences; early career]
6. RCUK Pathways to Impact Case studies: deadline 1 August 2011 [all fields; all levels]
7. Do you know a rising star in science communication: nomination deadline 28 August 2011 [sciences; early career]
8. NCCPE resources for working with the media [all fields; all levels]
9. NCCPE Engage 2011 National Conference: 29-30 November 2011 [all fields; all levels]

1. An engaged university? Your views needed
How do you think we are doing with engagement at Bristol? Are we leading the field, or are there areas where we really need to improve as an institution?
The Centre for Public Engagement would appreciate your ideas and input via this short (10 minute) online survey based on the NCCPE's EDGE self-assessment tool. All those entering will have the chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher.
Web: survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/edgetool

2. University of Bristol Engage Conference: 29 September 2011
Join colleagues and partners on 29 September at Engage – the University of Bristol’s annual conference about public engagement. Hear about and discuss the changing landscape of public engagement, get inspired by colleagues’ activities and meet and exchange ideas with potential partners over an informal networking lunch.

The Centre for Public Engagement will also be holding further events focussed on ‘Public engagement and research impact’ and ‘Getting started in public engagement’ later in the Autumn Term.

Date: Thursday 29 September 2011, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Guest speaker: Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association and Chair of the BBSRC Bioscience for Society Strategy Panel.
Venue: Wills Memorial Building, Reception Room, Queen’s Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ
Contact: cpe-info@bristol.ac.uk
Web: survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/engage_2011

3. End of Researchers in Residence (RinR) scheme
An edited statement from RCUK.
From 13 January 2012 Research Councils UK (RCUK) will no longer fund the Researchers in Residence (RinR) scheme. Since the scheme’s inception 17 years ago the opportunities in the sector for researchers and schools to engage with each other have greatly increased. Although having been of value to researchers and schools alike, this specific design of scheme is no longer able to deliver value for money.

RCUK continue to be fully committed to the Public Engagement with Research agenda through the collective and individual activities of the Research Councils. The focus over the next six months of the RinR scheme will be to complete as many placements as possible for those researchers and schools that have already applied to take part before the scheme closes on the 13 January 2012. Because of this, RinR is now closed to any further applications.

In light of this decision, RCUK is keen to hear about your experiences of initiatives that successfully connect researchers with schools whilst demonstrating excellence with impact and value for money. Please send your comments to sis@rcuk.ac.uk
Web: www.rcuk.ac.uk/media/news/2011news/Pages/RinR2011.aspx

4. The NCCPE Public Engagement Ambassadors scheme (PEAs): event 26 July 2011
The NCCPE PEA scheme is for people who are passionate about HE public engagement. Ambassadors might be keen to develop their experience and skills in this area, or to inspire their institution to develop its public engagement work.

The NCCPE is holding their next PEAs networking event on Tuesday 26th July, at the University of York. This is open to anyone who is passionate about public engagement – you might not be a PEA yet, but could be interested in joining the scheme. If you would like to attend this free event, please register at: www.survey.bris.ac.uk/nccpe/peasyork

Contact: nccpe.enquiries@uwe.ac.uk
Web: www.publicengagement.ac.uk/how-we-help/ambassadors-scheme

5. X-change 2011 at the British Science Festival – volunteers needed: application deadline 1 August 2011
The British Science Festival is being held in Bradford from 10-15 September 2011. The British Science Association is looking for volunteers to organise and run the x-change which is an informal round-up of the day’s talks, events and workshops. This is a great opportunity to get experience planning and running public engagement events, meeting speakers and networking with some of the UK’s top science communicators.
Web: www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/ScienceinSociety/x-change/x-change.htm

6. RCUK Pathways to Impact Case studies: deadline 1 August 2011
RCUK are looking to capture a handful of case studies to include within their guidance for Pathways to Impact. We are looking for case studies which include an aspect of public engagement but are also interested in the connections with engaging other audiences (e.g. policy-makers or business) as public engagement will often be part of a broader picture.

Please contact Ruth Potter for further details and a template (deadline for case studies 1 August 2011) ruth.potter@rcuk.ac.uk

7. Do you know a rising star in science communication: nomination deadline 28 August 2011
Nominations for the 2011 Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement are now open. The Award is open to anyone who is recognised as an up-and-coming talent in science communication, with innovative and new ideas. The successful nominee will receive a personal prize of £1,000 and be appointed as “Science Communicator in residence” at the Manchester Science Festival 2012.

Previous winners include Chris Smith (Naked Scientists), Karen Bultitude (UWE, Bristol), David Price (Science Made Simple) and Steve Cross (UCL).
Web: www.manchestersciencefestival.com/joshaward2011

8. NCCPE resources for working with the media
Working with Graphic Science, the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) has created new guides and methods to help researchers consider how best to engage the public with their work through the media. The following guides are available:

Working in TV
Working with Digital Technologies
Working with News Media
Working with Local Radio
Communicating through the Media

Web: www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/creating-headline

9. NCCPE Engage 2011 National Conference 29-30 November 2011
This year’s conference has four themes: making an impact with your research; creating an engagement culture; effective partnerships; engaging students. The NCCPE is inviting expressions of interest from delegates willing to hold a 60-minute interactive workshop addressing one or more of the conference themes or to contribute a case study to be discussed in a round table format.

Venue: The Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Web: www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/engage-2011-making-impact

Finally, a pleas from King's College Taunton:

Does Bristol University have a programme of sending lecturers out to local schools? We, at King's College Taunton, are looking for outside academic speakers on any topic to come and lecture to our sixth-form. Please contact teacher Emma Forward if you can help - ejforward@kings-taunton.co.uk

Best wishes,

Fiona and Philippa

Help us evaluate our public engagement activities

2011-06-27T13:05:00.002+01:00

How do you think we are doing with engagement at Bristol?

Are we leading the field, or are there areas where we really need to improve as an institution?
The Centre for Public Engagement would appreciate your ideas and input via this short (10 minute) online survey, based on the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement's EDGE self-assessment tool http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/support/self-assess.

The results of this survey will help to shape the future activity of the CPE. The survey will be open until the end of September, and we will share the results at the Engage conference on 29 September (http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/engage_2011).

You can complete the survey by following this link: http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/edgetool
and all those entering will have the chance to win a £25 Amazon voucher.

Engagers’ Digest – 23/6/11

2011-06-22T14:17:00.009+01:00

The Bristol Festival of Nature took place last weekend and despite a rainy start was a great success. Two University of Bristol tents buzzed with researchers and members of the public sharing their views and knowledge, and a range of creative activities captivated children. Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the Festival.

In the Autumn term we're looking forward to Engage 2011 - the annual University of Bristol conference about public engagement. Registration has just opened and further details are available below.

Finally, if you are in London this weekend you might want to drop in to the Science Museum to see Bristol neuroscientists ‘knitting neurons’ as part of the Museum’s Stitched Science exhibition.

Please feel free to distribute this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues, particularly if you are a Departmental Engagers Rep.

In this edition of the Digest:

Making the most of Festivals - how to involve university students and staff: 12 July 2011 [all fields; all levels]
University of Bristol Engage Conference: 29 September 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Science Shop Autumn School: 3-4 October 2011 [all fields; all levels]
NCCPE Engage 2011 National Conference: 29-30 November 2011 [all fields; all levels]
JISCMail list for Student-Community Engagement [all fields; all levels]
Resources for Student-Community Engagement [all fields; all levels]
The Guardian Higher Education Network live chat on the wider value of University [all fields; all levels]

1. Making the most of Festivals - how to involve university students and staff: 12 July 2011
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) commissioned the University of Cambridge’s Community Affairs team and Dr Eric Jensen of the University of Warwick to explore the involvement of universities in festivals. The research included a survey of festival organisers and participants, to gather evidence on the various ways that festivals are developed and delivered, and the role of students in this activity.

The NCCPE then developed a range of resources to showcase effective practice, and to help universities and festival organisers involve university staff and students in successful public engagement. At this all day workshop, we will present the results of our research, launch our new resources, showcase studies of different activities, and provide opportunities for delegates to share their own ideas and experiences. The event is open to anyone with an interest in engaging the public through festivals although due to demand a waiting list is currently in operation.

Venue: Newton Room, The Pitt Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RP. For more information please go to: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/making-most-festivals

2. University of Bristol Engage Conference: 29 September 2011
Join colleagues and partners on 29 September 2011 at Engage – the University of Bristol’s annual conference about public engagement. Hear about and discuss the changing landscape of public engagement, get inspired by colleagues’ activities and meet and exchange ideas with potential partners over an informal networking lunch.

Guest speaker: Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association and Chair of the BBSRC Bioscience for Society Strategy Panel.
Date: Thursday 29 September 2011, 10:30 am – 2:30 pm
Venue: Wills Memorial Building Reception Room, Queen’s Road, Bristol, BS8 1RJ
Registration is now open http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/engage_2011 and further information available from cpe-info@bristol.ac.uk

The Centre for Public Engagement will also be holding further events focussed on ‘Public engagement and research impact’ and ‘Getting started in public engagement’ later in the Autumn Term.

3. Science Shop Autumn School: 3-4 October 2011
European funding allows the Living Knowledge Network to offer a free ‘Autumn School’ to all those interested in operating a Science Shop, or Community-Based Research Office. It will take place in Dublin, Ireland, on Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th of October, 2011, for two full days. Participation is free; though you do need to cover your own travel and stay. Language will be English.

Science Shops provide independent, participatory research support in response to concerns expressed by civil society groups. They cover all academic and engineering disciplines, so ‘science’ should be taken in its broadest meaning. They are also not ‘shops’ in the traditional sense of the word. Science Shops are small entities that carry out research in a wide range of disciplines – usually free of charge – on behalf of (or with) citizens and civil society organisations. That Science Shops respond to civil society’s needs for expertise and knowledge is a key element that distinguishes them from other knowledge transfer mechanisms.

The Autumn School is relevant to those who would like to structure and embed community-university engagement more broadly in their local (or regional) context, or set up any form of co-operation in research with civil-society organisations.

Further information from Dr. Henk Mulder, Science Shop, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, h.a.j.mulder@rug.nl
http://www.scienceshops.org

4. NCCPE Engage 2011 National Conference: 29-30 November 2011
The second National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) national conference will bring together people from across the UK to celebrate HEI public engagement, and explore ways to support it more effectively. A call for workshops and case studies will be issued shortly. Further information from http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/

5. JISCMail list for Student-Community Engagement
The NCCPE has launched a new network for academics and practitioners to discuss the role of Public Engagement within the taught curriculum. They hope that it will be a forum to discuss research and policy papers, share events and updates that relate to this area of practice, which broadly speaking can be described as informal and formal experiential education where learning emerges through a cycle of action and reflection. It encompasses a wide variety of practices including service-learning, community-based learning, learning-linked volunteering, student-community engagement and scholarship of engagement. It is hoped that this group will become an interdisciplinary forum for discussion. Cross cutting, or boundary spanning posts, research and news are particularly welcomed, as are those that look more closely at particular areas of practice.

The list is a sub-list of the NCCPE’s Public Engagers Network (NCCPE-PEN). Please register or sign up here: https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=NCCPE-SCE

6. Resources for Student-Community Engagement
The NCCPE have also created a Public Library of a selection of papers and research related to this area which everyone is welcome to contribute to: http://www.mendeley.com/groups/1052531/student-community-engagement/papers/ There is also a range of resources on student volunteering and community engagement, derived from our vinspired students project, on the NCCPE website at: http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/about/vinspired-students

7. The Guardian Higher Education Network live chat on the wider value of University
As part of Universities Week The Guardian organised a live chat on communicating the wider value of a university with 8 panel members. They asked – ‘Universities have to persuade their communities that higher education matters. But just how?’ A record of the discussions and all 143 comments can be found on the chat site. http://www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2011/jun/09/communicating-value-of-higher-education

Engagers' Digest 24/5/11

2011-05-24T09:13:00.017+01:00

With the summer term in full swing we have brought together this collection of upcoming engagement opportunities; mostly events and workshops but also some funding for projects centred on adult and community learning. For a chance to get really involved in Bristol life you could gather together a group of colleagues to represent your profession in the ‘launch procession’ of M Shed, Bristol’s newest museum.

Please feel free to distribute this bulletin onwards to interested colleagues.

In this edition of the Digest:
1. UBU Awards 2011 [all fields; students]
2. Volunteers sought for Bristol Festival of Nature: 16-19 June including set-up day [all fields; all levels]
3. Adult and Community Learning Fund 2011: deadline 10 June [all fields; all levels]
4. Science Communication Training for Europe’s Scientists: booking deadline 1 June [sciences; all levels]
5. People and Research South West Launch Event: 6 June [health and social care; all levels]
6. Bristol Festival of Education: 6 - 17 June [all fields; all levels]
7. National HE STEM Programme event: 7 June [STEM; all levels]
8. Universities Week 2011: What's the big idea? 13 – 19 June [all fields; all levels]
9. M Shed Launch - Procession of Professions: 18 June [all fields; all levels]
10. Exploring Digital Storytelling: 22 June [all fields; all levels]
11. Inspirational Outreach: A Workshop on Sharing Practice 23rd June [STEM; all levels]

1. UBU Awards 2011
The Students’ Union Awards 2011 acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding student activity that has taken place during the year through societies, sports clubs, volunteering, fundraising and projects, as well as individuals’ contributions. There are 14 awards in total including: ‘Best Collaboration’, ‘Voluntary Project of the Year’, and an ‘International Engagement Award’.
‘Outstanding Contribution to Bristol Life’ nominations close on 27 May to allow readers of the Bristol Evening Post to vote on the candidates for the award. Deadline for all other nominations is 5pm Friday 10 June.
Any student can make a nomination and can do so online at www.ubu.org.uk/unionawards

2. Volunteers sought for Bristol Festival of Nature: 16-19 June including set-up day
Helpers are needed from 16-19 June to help set-up, run and de-rig the Bristol Festival of Nature. Jobs will include setting up stalls and marquees and engaging with some of the 25,000 visitors at the festival.
Any post-graduate students who already intend to work with the University directly as internal volunteers, on a specific project, need not register. This is for general Festival volunteers who will be assigned to a variety of roles.
To register please visit www.bnhc.org.uk/home/festival/volunteer
Further information from Matt Postles at matt@bnhc.org.uk and www.festivalofnature.org

3. Adult and Community Learning Fund: deadline 10 June 2011, 12 noon
This is a new fund to help make the Big Society a reality. Organisations from across England can bid for their share of £2.25 million from the Adult and Community Learning Fund for new and imaginative adult and community learning opportunities that engage and motivate, in particular, disadvantaged adults.
The maximum amount for any bid is £75,000 and the minimum is £10,000. The Adult and Community Learning Fund can support a wide range of projects and activities in England - though all of them should deliver learning to adults. Projects will need to demonstrate the role adult learning plays in the achievement of a range of the Government's wider social policy goals. One of eight key themes is ‘civic engagement and community decision making’.
For further details including how to apply visit: http://www.niace.org.uk/news/new-fund-for-adult-and-community-learning?src=fp2nd Inquiries to aclf@niace.org.uk

4. Science Communication Training for Europe’s Scientists: booking deadline 1 June
This training, in Dubrovnik, Croatia from 17 July - 3 August 2011 is being run by ESCONET (European Science Communication Network) which aims to help scientists develop the skills and confidence to interact with media, engage with citizens, to advise and persuade policy-makers and to get clearly heard. The training is open to all scientists and researchers from all disciplines and backgrounds - regardless of their source of funding. That is, participation is not limited to EC FP6 or FP7 funded researchers, which was the case previously. For more information regarding the workshops, our trainers, the booking procedure and fees, please visit our website: http://www.esconet.org

5. People and Research South West Launch Event: 6 June 2011, 1.30 - 5pm
People and Research South West is a collaborative initiative to support researchers to involve the public in health and social care research, and to support the public in getting involved. We are a partnership of NHS organisations, the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. At our Launch Event you can find out about this new initiative and how you can be involved, learn about experiences of public involvement in research and to meet other people with an interest in this area. Keynote presentation from Professor John Kirwan and Pam Richards, Patient Research Partner, Academic Department of Rheumatology from the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Trust.
Venue: Learning and Research building, Southmead Hospital, Bristol Contact Catrin Richards, Public Involvement in Research Co-ordinator Email Catrin.Richards@nbt.nhs.uk or Catrin.Richards@uwe.ac.uk http://hls.uwe.ac.uk/suci/people-and-research-south-west.aspx

6. Bristol Festival of Education: 6 - 17 June 2011
The Graduate School of Education are marking the opening their new Creative Learning Spaces with a series of public events. The events are intended to provoke discussion of key ideas and contributions to the advancement of education, locally and globally. For a full listing of events see the Festival website web: bristol.ac.uk/education/events/festivalofeducation.html

7. A National HE STEM Programme event: 7 June 2011
An invitation to attend the first of a series of free seminars focused on the transition and induction experiences of students on HE STEM programmes and the role of peer assisted learning on these programmes. The day includes a session by Dr Barrie Cooper on ‘Developing a community of practice for STEM Outreach and WP practitioners’.
Venue: Kay Building, Streatham campus. University of Exeter.
Further information from Chris Keenan, Bournemouth University, ckeenan@bournemouth.ac.uk To register visit: https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGZRSzFfUjg3QkozLVhPdTJPZkFMYlE6MA

8. Universities Week 2011: What's the big idea? 13 – 19 June 2011
Universities Week 2011 is a national campaign demonstrating the benefits of universities within UK society. The campaign highlights the impact universities in the UK have on the individual, the local community, its businesses, and the future of the UK, just to name a few.
Each day of ‘Universities Week’ will tell a story about a unique aspect of the country’s universities and their influence on the economy, culture, society, and the future. Ian Morton of Universities UK says “The days have been designed to provide you with a template of activity to which you can link at an institutional level and for you to use with your local and regional press.” If you have any particularly interesting video podcasts or case studies that you think would be of interest to members of the public, please contact Ian.
Further information from http://www.universitiesweek.org.uk/Events/Documents/UniversitiesWeekCampaignResourcePack.pdf Enquiries to: Ian.Morton@UniversitiesUk.ac.uk

9. M Shed Launch - Procession of Professions: 18th June 2011, 11am
An invitation to take part in the Bristol Procession of Professions. This procession is taking place as part of the new museum of Bristol, M Shed, Launch Weekend celebrations and we would love Bristol University staff and students to be involved. It is a chance to bring together and show off as many Bristol trades, professions and businesses as possible.
What we now need is groups of people, in sixes, who will represent the current Bristol professions, trades, businesses and occupations to create the parade wearing iconic costumes of their own choosing. The clergy, the law and the military may have traditionally recognisable clothing, but how would you show what you do?
The procession will proceed on foot from Castle Park (the heart of the old city) through Cabot Circus and Broadmead, and along the harbourside to M Shed. If you are interested, please email: bethan.greaves@bristol.gov.uk with the subject heading ‘procession info please’.

10. Exploring Digital Storytelling: 22 June 2011
Developments in web technology and the variety of digital media now available provide easy access to a wide range of tools for creating and sharing stories. You don't need to be a skilled film maker to produce your own movies! This ‘hands on’ workshop looks at why stories are a powerful and effective way of communicating with an audience and how the technique can be used effectively for a wide range of purposes; learning, publicity and marketing, community engagement and more. Cost £160 including lunch; venue 8-10 Berkeley Square http://www.netskills.ac.uk/content/products/workshops/event/bris-jun11-story-r1/index.html

11. Inspirational Outreach: a workshop on sharing practice: 23rd June 2011
Are you involved in Outreach and Widening Participation activities relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the South West of England? Would you like to share your expertise and experiences with colleagues from other institutions? If so, you are warmly invited to attend this workshop, where there will be keynote speakers such as Professor Angie Hart, Dr Alison Hooper and Sophie Duncan, who will discuss the benefits of being part of a STEM Outreach and WP Community of Practice.
In light of the loss of Aimhigher and the focus in Access Agreements on effective (and collaborative) Outreach, we aim to develop a sustainable South-West regional Community of Practice for STEM Outreach and WP practitioners. The Inspirational Outreach Workshop provides an important opportunity for practitioners to share practice and coordinate cross-institutional peer review activities. In doing so, we hope STEM Outreach and WP practitioners across the South-West will be able to become more deeply involved in building a network of cross-institutional collaborative partnerships and achieve more effective STEM Outreach and WP activity.
See additional blog post with programme.
11am – 4pm, College of Engineering, Harrison Building, University of Exeter Free registration. https://www.survey.exeter.ac.uk/inspirational_outreach For further information, please contact Laura Bonner: M.L.Bonner@exeter.ac.uk

Inspirational Outreach: a workshop on sharing practice: 23 June 2011

2011-05-23T15:43:00.001+01:00

Are you involved in Outreach and Widening Participation activities relating to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the South West of England? Would you like to share your expertise and experiences with colleagues from other institutions? If so, you are warmly invited to attend this workshop, where there will be keynote speakers such as Professor Angie Hart, Dr Alison Hooper and Sophie Duncan, who will discuss the benefits of being part of a STEM Outreach and WP Community of Practice.

In light of the loss of Aimhigher and the focus in Access Agreements on effective (and collaborative) Outreach, we aim to develop a sustainable South-West regional Community of Practice for STEM Outreach and WP practitioners. The Inspirational Outreach Workshop provides an important opportunity for practitioners to share practice and coordinate cross-institutional peer review activities. In doing so, we hope STEM Outreach and WP practitioners across the South-West will be able to become more deeply involved in building a network of cross-institutional collaborative partnerships and achieve more effective STEM Outreach and WP activity.

11:00 Welcome and Introductions

11:10 Inspirational Outreach: Demonstrations of exciting Outreach activities

12:00 Why Be Part of a Community of Practice? Professor Angie Hart, Academic Director of the Community University Partnership Programme (Cupp) at the University of Brighton

12:30 Sharing Practice through Peer Review - Dr Alison Hooper, Associate Head of Student Experience in the Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics at the University of the West of England

13:00 Working Lunch: Sharing Ideas, Making Connections

14:30 Measuring the Impact of Outreach - Sophie Duncan, Deputy Director of the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)

15:00 Discussion: Evaluation in practice

Venue: College of Engineering, Harrison Building, University of Exeter
Free registration. https://www.survey.exeter.ac.uk/inspirational_outreach
For further information, please contact Laura Bonner: M.L.Bonner@exeter.ac.uk

Engagers' Digest - 5/5/2011

2011-05-05T15:54:00.001+01:00

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:

Volunteering with the Bristol Natural History Consortium - May and June 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Wellcome Trust science writing prize - deadline 20 May 2011 [all fields; all levels]
Business and Community Engagement CPD Focus Group - 25 May 2011 [all fields; all levels]
ESRC Festival of Social Science - funding deadline 3 June 2011 [social sciences; all levels]
British Science Festival bursaries - deadline 15 July 2011 [all fields; students]
British Science Association Science in Society e-newsletter [sciences, social sciences; all levels]
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

Volunteering with Bristol Natural History Consortium

2011-05-05T14:50:00.003+01:00

Volunteering opportunities with the Bristol Natural History Consortium

The University is going to have a strong presence at the Festival of Nature 2011, and is involved with the Bioblitz and with Meet the Species. Any help you can give would be brilliant, and you might even end up at Glastonbury Festival!

Do you have a love of wildlife and natural history? Or do you just enjoy getting involved in the city, helping people and meeting lots of new faces? If so, why not volunteer with the Bristol Natural History Consortium (BNHC) for a great experience this summer?

Bristol BioBlitz 2011

We need volunteers for Bristol BioBlitz at Tyntesfield Estate National Trust, Wraxall on 20^th-21^st May. During this free entry public event, we will be trying to find as many species of wildlife as possible on the estate against the clock and need experienced naturalists to give guided walks and help with species identification, guides to show people around and offer help with using identification keys and stewards to help run the event.

www.bnhc.org.uk/home/bioblitz/bristolbioblitz/get-involved

Bristol Festival of Nature 2011

We also need volunteers to cover a variety of activities at the Festival of Nature at Bristol Harbourside from 16^th to 19^th June. This is the UK’s largest celebration of nature and will see over 100 organisations providing activities and entertainment, a local foods market and the opportunity to rub shoulders with some giants of the wildlife and conservation industry.

www.bnhc.org.uk/home/festival/volunteer

Meet the Species – coming soon!

Keep an eye out for volunteering opportunities around the country with our new Meet the Species events running as part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Events are completely FREE to attend so please bring along your friends and families to unleash Bristol’s wild side this summer.

British Science Festival - student bursaries

2011-05-05T13:57:00.001+01:00

From the British Science Association:

I am writing to let you know about the British Science Festival student bursary scheme which enables Universities to sponsor students to attend the largest annual public science event in Europe and experience the full week’s activities. The Festival provides an outstanding opportunity for students to broaden their horizons, meet leading scientists and speakers, engage in debate and discussion about the impact of science in society and enjoy the atmosphere of an event that is extensively covered in the media.

This year the Festival will take place in Bradford from 10^th -15^th September, hosted by the University of Bradford with events taking place on campus, at Bradford College and throughout the city. The theme for the 2011 Festival is 'Exploring new worlds' with all of the events featured tailored for non-specialists, as are the debates, exhibitions and social events - which form such an important part of the experience.

Institutions such as yours have the opportunity to sponsor students who are above the age of eighteen and are studying at any level to attend at a greatly reduced cost of £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. The deadline for applications is Friday 15^th July 2011.

It would be great if you could pass the details of this scheme on to anyone you think might be interested in this scheme. I can send you some information to send to your students or send some posters to display around the University. Please let me know if you require anything.

For further details about the bursary package, or if you do not wish to be contacted in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

www.britishscienceassociation.org/studentbursary

Engagers' DIgest - 5/4/11

2011-04-05T15:21:00.001+01:00

Dear all,

While Easter eggs are just on the horizon, there is still time for lots of interesting public engagement in April...

Changing Perspectives: connecting art and science - until end April
You have until the end of April to see the two stunning University of Bristol exhibitions of science-inspired art at the Bristol Gallery and Grant Bradley Gallery. Read our piece in this week's Big Issue - centreforpublicengagement.blogspot.com/2011/04/changing-perspectives-exhibitions.html
Over the coming fortnight hear talks on topics as diverse as 'inspired engineering' and 'manipulating biologies'. Knit yourself a neuron or two on Saturday 9 April at the Grant Bradley Gallery, and try your hand at science-inspired fiction at a workshop on 13 April and open mic on 19 April. More information and event details here - bristol.ac.uk/changingperspectives

In the Digest:

Beacon for Wales Social Media for Researchers - 11 April 2011 [all fields]
Universities Week case study requests - deadlines in April and May [all fields]
Vice Chancellor's Impact Award [all fields]
ESRC Festival of Social Science - funding deadline June 2011 [social sciences]
Nuffield Council on Bioethics - consultation deadline 15 June [sciences, social sciences]
NCCPE news and resources [all fields]
Other events

1. Beacon for Wales Social Media for Researchers - 11 April 2011
Social Media for Researchers is organised by the Beacon for Wales and is FREE to attend. There are only 12 places available so contact the Beacon to reserve your place now: 029 20 870 862, beacon@cardiff.ac.uk Trainer: Dr Alice Bell; Monday 11th April 2011, 1.00 – 4.00pm
3.07 Training Suite, Julian Hodge Study Centre, Cardiff University
More information on this Beacon for Wales event listing.

2. Universities Week case study requests - deadlines in April and May
Universities Week - What's the Big Idea? runs from 13-19 June 2011, with the aim of demonstrating how universities impact on the local community and the UK society as a whole. They are looking for case studies of work that illustrate their 4 main themes - society, research, business and the factshare generator. Deadlines for the case studies are throughout April and May. More information here - http://www.universitiesweek.org.uk/Home.aspx

3. Vice Chancellor's Impact Award - deadline 25 April 2011
The Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Award is part of the New Enterprise Competition 2011. Two awards will be made this year, a winner’s prize of £1500 and a runner-up prize of £500 to individuals or groups showing outstanding innovation in creating economic and/or social impact from their research. The Vice-Chancellor's Impact Award is sponsored by IP Group. More information from the Impact Award site.

4. ESRC Festival of Social Science - funding deadline 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. Nuffield Council on Bioethics consultation - deadline 15 June 2011
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has just launched a consultation on emerging biotechnologies - www.nuffieldbioethics.org/biotechnologies. One of the areas they are looking at is public engagement, asking questions such as - What role should public opinion play in the development of policy around emerging biotechnologies? What public engagement activities are, or are not, particularly valuable with respect to emerging biotechnologies? How should we evaluate public engagement activities? Is there something unique about emerging biotechnologies, relative to other complex areas of government policy making, that requires special kinds of public engagement outside the normal democratic channels? Contribute your views!

6. NCCPE news and resources
Check out the latest news and resources from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, and subscribe to the mailing list to receive updates yourself.

7. Other events:

Widening Participation through Part-time Provision
Goldsmiths, University of London, Friday 20 May 2011
http://www.uall.ac.uk/

And just a little reminder - we need some light boxes for an exhibition at the Bristol Gallery for 10 days from 14 – 23 October. Please let us know if you can help!

Best wishes,

Philippa

Changing Perspectives exhibitions

2011-04-05T14:21:00.003+01:00

In the Big Issue this week....

Science and art – not enemies after all.

Image: Untitled future mutation by Luke Jerram
Two exhibitions open in Bristol this April make it clear that the debate over the ‘two cultures’ of science and art should be long gone. With a range of stunning science-inspired art, the University of Bristol’s Changing Perspectives series shows that while art and science interrogate the world in different ways, they both overlap and push each other in exciting, new directions. From delicate virus particles hand-blown in glass and the personal reflections of medical students confronted by dying patients to haunting drawings of the Alps’ fading glaciers, these exhibitions and the accompanying talks and events bring to light the fascinating work that emerges when artists and scientists get together.

In the Grant Bradley Gallery on Bedminster parade the Changing Perspectives exhibition is inspired by the body. It includes international artist Luke Jerram’s transparent glass viruses that provoke questions about the global impact of virus-borne disease, and research images taken with an eye for the aesthetic that open up microscopic worlds of crawling cells and flowering moulds. Work by medical students, for example the stunning centrepiece by student Rachel Handley, questions the role of the doctor in helping to support a dying patient, while reciprocally, work by patients calls on doctors of the future to see, hear and touch their patients with compassion. You would not be the first to leave the Gallery with a lump in your throat.

The art-science smorgasbord doesn’t end there. A second exhibition at the Bristol Gallery, also part of Changing Perspectives, makes tangible the complex and often abstract worlds of mathematics, physics, chemistry and physical geography. Find out what makes researchers tick through photographic portraits and films, how the equations that describe chaotic systems can be captured in crochet and steel, and what a nano-brush for a nano-dog might look like...

A series of free, public evening events accompany the exhibitions; this week sees two talks - artist Emma Stibbon and glaciologist Giles Brown discussing the fragility and changing nature of our natural environment, and a composites engineer and artist getting to grips with ‘Inspired Engineering’.

Both exhibitions are open until the end of April. More information at bristol.ac.uk/changingperspectives

The Grant Bradley Gallery - 1 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, BS3 4AQ. Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm

The Bristol Gallery – Millennium Promenade, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5TY. Mon – Fri 10 am – 6 pm; Sat – Sun 10 am – 5 pm.

Engagers' Digest - 11/3/11

2011-03-11T09:23:00.011Z

Dear all,

It's National Science and Engineering Week, and we're heading into a very busy week at CPE, with the Changing Perspectives art/science series kicking off on Friday 18 March. Join us on 19 March for a circus-inspired family-friendly interactive science exhibition at Circomedia, and later in the series for thought-provoking exhibitions, talks and workshops - bristol.ac.uk/changingperspectives. Or tell us what you think about statements like "Our bodies eventually become our own autobiographies", and become part of an artwork in the Grant Bradley Gallery exhibition...

Also in the digest:

1. NCCPE workshop on REF guidance [workshop; all fields; senior academics]
2. AHRC survey of public engagement [survey; arts and humanities; all stages]

3. Vice Chancellor's Impact Award [award; all fields; all stages]

4. Cuts in Culture: The Impact on Creativity [conference; arts and humanities; senior academics]
5. UALL Seminar on Widening Participation through Part-time Provision [seminar; all fields]

6. Wellcome Trust Society Awards [funding; biomedical sciences; all levels]
7. Institute of Physics Public Engagement Grants [funding; physical sciences; all levels]

1. NCCPE workshop on REF guidance - 29 March 2011
Following a very lively session on PE and the REF at the NCCPE's Engage 2010 conference in December, HEFCE have asked the NCCPE to help them draft guidance for the new REF panels, focused on the challenge of assessing the benefits arising from engaging the public with research. The NCCPE are hosting a workshop in Bristol on the 29^th March to consider what that guidance should contain. A follow up workshop with a number of the new panel chairs will be held in May, to introduce the guidance and get feedback on it, before it is published later this year. If anyone is interested in attending the March event, there is more information here: publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/ref-workshop.

2. AHRC survey of public engagement - deadline 10 April 2011
AHRC launches new UK survey of public engagement in arts and humanities research. The survey has been designed to gather vital information on arts and humanities researchers’ understanding of and activities in the area of public engagement - as a means of supporting and promoting national and institutional goals in public engagement and, through them, the aspirations of researchers themselves.
ahrc.ac.uk/News/Latest/Pages/PE_survey.aspx

3. Vice Chancellor's Impact Award - deadline 25 April 2011
The Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Award is part of the New Enterprise Competition 2011. Two awards will be made this year, a winner’s prize of £1500 and a runner-up prize of £500 to individuals or groups showing outstanding innovation in creating economic and/or social impact from their research. The Vice-Chancellor's Impact Award is sponsored by IP Group. More information from the Impact Award site.

4. Cuts in Culture: The Impact on Creativity - 11 May 2011
A ring-fence has been promised for teaching in science, technology, engineering and mathematics but where will this leave the arts, humanities and social sciences? Hosted by Research Fortnight, this one-day conference will examine the repercussions of funding cuts to the arts and humanities sector, consider the immediate fallout and the impact on the future of the industry. More information.

5. Widening Participation through Part-time Provision - 20 May 2011
Universities Association for Lifelong Learning (UALL) is holding a seminar about Widening Participation through Part-time Provision, organised by the Widening Participation and Social Network convened by Annette Hayton, at Goldsmiths, University of London, Friday 20 May 2011. More information from the UALL site.

6. Welcome Trust Society Awards - deadline 1 April 2011
The Welcome Trust 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. The scheme is open to anyone with a good idea for engaging people with developments in biomedical science. This might include mediators and practitioners of science communication; science centre/museum staff; artists; educators; health professionals; and academics in bioscience, social science, bioethics and history.
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funding-schemes/Society-Awards/index.htm

7. IoP Public Engagement Grant Programme - deadline 2 May 2011
The Institute of Physics public engagement grant scheme is open for applications; up to £1000 is available to individuals and organisations running physics-based events and activities in the UK and Ireland. Deadline - 2nd May 2011.
http://www.iop.org/about/grants/outreach/page_38843.html

And don't miss:

IG Nobel are back at HP Labs again this year. The show will be held in the HP Labs Cabot Auditorium at 5pm on Tuesday 15th March with a drinks reception afterwards. University staff and students are welcome to attend, please let lucy.feilen@hp.com know how many spaces you require.

Engagers' Digest - 21 February 2011

2011-02-21T13:00:00.000Z

Dear all,

Sorry for the hiatus with the Digest - I should be back on track now and want to welcome a group of new subscribers - PhD students from the EPSRC doctoral training centres - welcome!

In this edition of the Digest:

1. University Public Engagement awards [award; all fields; all stages]
2. Impact Awards, organised by Praxis Unico [award; all fields; all stages]
3. Vice Chancellor's Impact Award [award; all fields; all stages]

4. Changing Perspectives: connecting art and science [opportunity; all fields; all stages]
5. Internship with 'The Naked Scientists' [opportunity; science; Masters/PhD students]
6. Einstein's Garden at the Green Man Festival [opportunity; science/art; all stages]

7. Science Communication Conference [conference; science; all stages]
8. Cuts in Culture: The Impact on Creativity [conference; arts and humanities; senior academics]

1. University Engagement Awards - deadline 1 March 2011
Sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers, the engagement awards are your chance to be recognised for your public engagement activity. Two awards will be made this year, each of £500 - one to an individual or group showing outstanding achievement in engagement, and one to an individual or group who is a newcomer to the area and has conducted an exceptional engagement project. For further information and guidance please see the Engagement Awards page on the CPE site.

2. Impact Awards organised by Praxis Unico - deadline 6 April 2011
These awards recognise and celebrate the success of collaborative working and the process of transferring knowledge and expertise beyond higher education, charities and public sector research establishments for the wider benefit of society and the economy. More information from the Impact Award site.

3. Vice Chancellor's Impact Award - deadline 25 April 2011
The Vice-Chancellor’s Impact Award is part of the New Enterprise Competition 2011. Two awards will be made this year, a winner’s prize of £1500 and a runner-up prize of £500 to individuals or groups showing outstanding innovation in creating economic and/or social impact from their research. The Vice-Chancellor's Impact Award is sponsored by IP Group. More information from the Impact Award site.

4. Changing Perspectives - from 18 March 2011
Changing Perspectives is a series of free public exhibitions, talks, workshops and performances that explores the fascinating relationships between art and science. We need your help to staff an interactive exhibition for schools and families on 18/19 March, and to solicit public perspectives on the body for a collaborative artwork. Please complete this short survey to tell us how you'd like to be involved - http://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/cpe/chngpersp_vols

For listings of all events and activities, see the Changing Perspectives website or download the Changing Perspectives flier (PDF; 1.1 MB)

5. Internship with The Naked Scientists
An 8-10 week summer internship with The Naked Scientists radio show. More details on this blog post.

6. Einstein's Garden at the Green Man Festival - deadline 27 May for 18-21 August festival
The Green Man Festival are looking for people or organisations that would like to bring a stall to Einstein’s Garden with the aim of engaging festival audiences with science. Stalls could explore fundamental scientific ideas or phenomena, the process of science or current scientific research. More information on the Centre for Public Engagement blog.

7. British Science Association Science Communication Conference - 25/26 May
This year's theme is ‘online engagement’ which will explore innovative uses of online media to engage the public with science. This will include discussions about podcasting, gaming, virtual worlds and citizen science, as well as an interactive social media workshop. Find out more from the Science Communication Conference site.

8. Cuts in Culture: The Impact on Creativity - 11 May 2011
A ring-fence has been promised for teaching in science, technology, engineering and mathematics but where will this leave the arts, humanities and social sciences? Hosted by Research Fortnight, this one-day conference will examine the repercussions of funding cuts to the arts and humanities sector, consider the immediate fallout and the impact on the future of the industry. More information.

Also happening in the University:

Climate of Change - University of Bristol Speaker Series 2011
Tuesday 22nd February, 6pm in the Queens Building -- Dr Tim Chatterton, UWE
www.bustbristol.org.uk or email bust@bristolhub.org

And finally - does anyone have any light boxes they might be able to lend for a 10-day exhibition in October? The exhibition will accompany this conference - http://www.heavenlydiscourses.org/ Please let me know.

Best wishes,

Philippa

Internship with The Naked Scientists

2011-02-21T12:30:00.000Z

Opportunity to join the Naked Scientists:

Could you strip down science to it's bare essentials?

Looking to kick-start a career in science media? The Naked Scientists have an opening for an intern to join their award-winning team this summer.

The successful applicant, who will also receive a cash award of £1000, will spend a period of 8 – 10 weeks gaining experience in making science radio programmes and podcasts, web development, science writing, video editing and production.

"The Naked Scientists" broadcasts on BBC radio stations across the UK, and worldwide as a podcast, which is consistently near the top of the iTunes Science podcast charts in the UK, US, Canada and Australia. Their unique approach to science communication features a range of presenters who interview renowned scientists and researchers from all over the world and take science questions on any subject live from the listening public.

This internship, which is supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC), is open to UK-based students (including Masters and PhD students and recent graduates) who hold or are registered for a science or engineering-based University degree.

Whether you’re interested in live radio; writing news or features; producing online video or developing online content, let us know what you think you could bring to the Naked Scientists, and what you would hope to get from the internship. Please include both email and telephone contact details.

Those wishing to apply should send a CV, cover letter and any additional supporting documents to Ben Valsler, The Naked Scientists, Dept. of Pathology, University of Cambridge, CB2 1QP.

The deadline for applications is April 1st 2011, selected applicants will be invited to interview in early May.

For further information please email Ben@thenakedscientists.com

Einstein's Garden at the Green Man Festival

2011-02-21T12:03:00.002Z

Opportunity for interesting science engagement activities:

Call for Proposals

Science Stalls for Einstein’s Garden at the Green Man Festival

The Green Man Festival is held in the stunning surroundings of the Brecon Beacons in Wales and is attended by approximately 18,000 people. The festival has earned a reputation as one of the great boutique festivals in the UK and in 2010 won ‘Best Medium Festival’ at the UK Festival Awards. The 2011 festival dates are 19/20/21 August and headliners will include Fleet Foxes.

For more information see www.greenman.net

Einstein’s Garden is a creative fusion of science, art and nature. The name ‘Einstein’ is associated with originality, creativity and quirkiness and it is these qualities that Einstein’s Garden embodies. The area’s venues are packed with a vibrant programme of performances, workshops and installations that use art, entertainment and participation to engage people with the diverse aspects of science and nature in fun, quirky and unexpected ways.

We are looking for people or organisations that would like to bring a stall to Einstein’s Garden with the aim of engaging festival audiences with science. Stalls could explore fundamental scientific ideas or phenomena, the process of science or current scientific research. It is essential that stalls include as much interactivity and participation as possible for festival goers and that they embody the creative and quirky spirit of Einstein’s Garden. Einstein’s Garden is a family friendly area of the festival so stalls should be suitable for children and adults. Please note that the Einstein’s Garden programme already includes roving science busking so we are looking for something different from the science stalls.

Stall holders must provide their own small marquee. The stall must be open from 12 midday until 8pm on 18^th August and from 10am until 8pm on 19^th, 20^th and 21^st August. There will be no power available for stalls and no generators are allowed in Einstein’s Garden so if your stall does need power you must provide your own renewable energy. All stall holders must have comprehensive public liability insurance.

If you would like to apply to run a science stall in Einstein’s Garden please send a proposal (max 1 side A4) detailing the content of your stall, how you plan to engage festival goers, the dimensions of your stall, the number of people you need to run it (this should be a maximum of six people) and any health and safety considerations.

Send your proposals to ellen@greennman.net by 27^th May.

The Green Man Festival will provide tickets for successful applicants but we are unable to cover any expenses.

Ellen Dowell

Manager and Curator of Einstein's Garden

The Green Man Festival

The Green Man Festival - winner of Best Medium Festival, UK Festival Awards 2010

RCUK Concordat

2011-02-02T17:42:00.002Z

A clear summary of the RCUK Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research, written by Chloe Sheppard (RCUK)

The new Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research aims to create a greater focus on and help embed public engagement with research across all disciplines in the higher education and research sectors. Signed by Research Councils UK, the UK Funding Councils, Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering and British Academy , the concordat provides a single statement of expectations and responsibilities of research funders in the UK.

Supporters of the Concordat include Universities UK, The 1994 Group, The Russell Group, Wellcome Trust, Association of Medical Research Charities, Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry, Society of Biology and Academy of Social Sciences.

As research funders, we recognise the benefits of public engagement for research and researchers, as well as society more broadly. We launched the Concordat to build on and strengthen the existing good quality public engagement activity by providing a mandate for universities and research institutes to better value, recognise and support public engagement.

The Concordat consists of a set of principles for the future support of public engagement within research organisations (including universities and research institutes) and, under each principle, an explanation of how it may best be embedded into institutional practices, building on the experiences of universities and research organisations across the UK (such as the Beacons for Public Engagement).

The importance of implementation is recognised by its inclusion within the Principles themselves.

The four principles are:
1) UK research organisations have a strategic commitment to public engagement.
2) Researchers are recognised and valued for their involvement with public engagement activities.
3) Researchers are enabled to participate in public engagement activities through appropriate training, support and opportunities.
4) The signatories and supporters will undertake regular reviews of their and the wider research sector's progress in fostering public engagement across the UK.

Our implementation plan includes working with the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and other partners to engage researchers, research managers, support staff and senior managers over the coming year via conferences, workshops and meetings to champion public engagement in the HE sector in the UK and support those within universities and research institutions to achieve the principles of the Concordat.

We have also developed a series of briefings for researchers, research managers, and supporters of researchers and senior Managers. These are on our web page (hosted at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/per/Pages/Concordat.aspx).

A Concordat steering group (with appropriate representation of the funders and sector bodies) is taking strategic oversight of the implementation and will review progress.
However, we do not wish to provide additional burden to universities and research institutes through additional reporting.

The Concordat therefore states (under Principle 4) that research organisations should themselves monitor and evaluate the efficacy of the public engagement they support in addressing their strategic aims and the extent to which they are meeting the expectations outlined in this Concordat. This Concordat provides a common framework for regular reviews of progress across the sector by the Funders, through existing reporting structures.

We also expect research organisations to work together to develop and share good practice in public engagement and in the implementation of the Concordat.

Finally, Alongside the Concordat, the National Coordinating Centre has produced a Manifesto for Public Engagement. By signing up to the manifesto, institutions can declare their strategic commitment to public engagement, and access additional support and guidance from the NCCPE. For further information please visit www.publicengagement.ac.uk
The NCCPE's website also hosts a wealth of additional resources to support managers and research staff to develop their public engagement activities and institutional strategies.

More on the Concordat including a full list of signatories and supporters can be found at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/per/Pages/Concordat.aspx

Chloe Sheppard
Senior Policy Manager
Public Engagement with Research
RCUK Strategy Unit

Engagers digest - 12 January 2011

2011-01-12T17:17:00.000Z

Dear colleagues,

Happy New Year and best wishes for 2011.

I thought it might be useful to start the year with a Digest worth saving - a more comprehensive update of opportunities and resources for public engagement. Please circulate widely, and check our website or contact Philippa for any further information.

January sees the launch of the 2011 Engagement Awards - your chance to be recognised for your outstanding contributions to public engagement. Please circulate news of these widely in your Schools and Departments. There are two levels of award, each worth £500, and the deadline is 1 March 2011; for further information and guidance please see centreforpublicengagement.blogspot.com/2011/01/university-of-bristol-engagement-awards.html

Don't forget that we can help with thinking about, articulating and achieving research impact through public engagement, as can now form part of Research Council applications and as will form part of the REF. Contact Philippa well in advance of your grant deadline to discuss further.

In this edition of the Digest:

1. New resources from the NCCPE [Resources; all fields; all levels]

2. Changing Perspectives [Opportunity; all fields; all levels]
3. Researchers in Residence [Opportunity; all fields; RCUK/Wellcome PGR and Postdocs]
4. STEM Ambassadors [Opportunity; STEM; all levels]
5. British Science Association Media Fellowships [Opportunity; STEM and Social Science, PGR]

6. Jubilee People's Millions [Funding; all fields]
7. Big Lottery Fund OPAL grant scheme [Funding; natural history]
8. European Commission Life Plus grant scheme [Funding; environment]
9. Steel Charitable Trust [Funding; all fields]

We receive a weekly Funding Insight newsletter, and can search at any time for funding opportunities.

10. Engagers Meeting Friday 4 February, 12-2pm [Meeting; all fields; Engagers reps]

Details:

1. New resources and from the NCCPE
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement have re-launched their excellent website, which is packed full of useful resources and thought-provoking pieces. They have guides to getting started in and how to do public engagement, as well as evidence for the benefits of engagement to research and teaching.

December also saw the launch of the NCCPE's Manifesto for Public Engagement, signed and supported by a range of HEIs, and an aligned Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research from the Research Councils and Hefce.

To stay abreast of news from the NCCPE, and to share expertise with colleagues across the country, join the NCCPE's Public Engagement Network.

2. Changing Perspectives: connecting art and science
This spring sees the launch of our major public engagement project for 2011 - Changing Perspectives. During March and April we'll be exploring the connections between art and science, drawing on work generated within the University and in collaboration with artists. Through a public series of events - exhibitions, talks and workshops, family and schools activities, and performances - we'll see how art can draw different disciplines together, open up discussions about contemporary issues and spark new insights for all.
See here for: Changing Perspectives site (new website coming soon)
Getting involved in Changing Perspectives

3. STEM Ambassadors
Inspire young people to learn about and consider careers in science, technology, engineering and maths by supporting STEM teaching in primary and secondary schools. You need to commit to visiting at least one school visit per year; CRB check and training included. For mathematicians, engineers, scientists, or lab technicians working in academia, industry or other STEM related careers.
Contact: Claire Dimond at Graphic Science - claire@graphicscience.co.uk
Web: www.graphicscience.co.uk/stem/default.htm

4. Researchers in Residence
For Research Council and Wellcome Trust-funded PhD and postdoctoral researchers in all fields. Develop a relationship with a secondary school by teaching classes and giving talks to pupils. CRB check and training included.
Contact: Rhian Power - rhian.power@aeat.co.uk
Web: www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk/cms/

5. British Science Association Media Fellowships
These Fellowships are intended to create a greater awareness and understanding of the workings of the media among practising scientists, social scientists, clinicians and engineers. Media Fellows spend 3 to 8 weeks working with a national press, broadcast or internet journalist learning to work within the conditions and constraints of the media to produce accurate and well informed pieces about developments in science and then attend the British Science Festival.
Web: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/web/scienceinsociety/MediaFellowships/index.htm

6. The Jubilee People’s Millions - deadline 4 February 2011
The Big Lottery Fund will be helping to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 by offering grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 to support new projects that will improve local places and the lives of people in your community. The Jubilee People’s Millions will be open to applications from voluntary or community organisations, schools, local authorities or health bodies. Applicants will need to inspire local people to get involved with their project and capture the public’s imagination to persuade them to vote for the project.

More information: www.peoplesmillions.org.uk/apply

7. OPAL Grant Scheme - deadline 7 February 2011
The OPAL Grant Scheme is a Big Lottery Fund project that aims to encourage people to spend more time outdoor enjoying and studying their local environment. It is open to all national and local natural history societies, recording schemes and similar groups that are active within England, including regional branches of national organisations. The theme for this round of grants is 'Sharing your skills'. They are seeking to support projects that transfer knowledge and skills either between members of the group or between the group and the wider community. Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available to support projects.

More information: www.opalexplorenature.org/Societyfunding

8. European Commission Life Plus - deadline July 2011
The next call for proposals under the Life + Programme will be launched in Mid-February 2011 with a deadline for submission in July. The Life + programme is the EU’s main fund for supporting environmental projects, under the headings of:
• Nature and biodiversity
• Environment policy and governance
• Information and communication.

More information: ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

9. Steel Charitable Trust - rolling deadline
Grants of between £1,000 and £25,000 are made to registered charities in the UK within the areas of: arts and culture, environment, health, education, disadvantaged. Grants are made at regular intervals during the year and the total level of grants is approximately £1,000,000, 30% of these grants will be made to organisations in the Luton and Bedfordshire area.

More information: www.steelcharitabletrust.org.uk/grant_policy.htm

10. Engagers Meeting
Just to let you know: the next Engagers meeting is on Friday 4 Febuary, 12-2pm in the Senate Room, Senate House. Engagers Reps have been invited but if you're not sure whether anyone is coming from your Department, or if you'd like to suggest items for the agenda, please get in touch. Notes from the meeting will be circulated shortly afterwards.

Best wishes for a happy and productive year in 2011,

Philippa

University of Bristol Engagement Awards 2011

2011-01-12T13:04:00.003Z

Sponsored by the Society of Merchant Venturers

We are pleased to announce the Engagement awards for 2010/11. Two awards will be made this year, each of £500, one to an individual or group showing outstanding achievement in engagement, and one to an individual or group who is a newcomer to the area and has conducted an exceptional engagement project.

Selection process
Individuals or groups can apply for the awards, with the Head of School’s endorsement. A panel will be convened by the Chair of the Engaged University Steering Group to decide who should receive the award.

Criteria for Award
The award will be given to the project/activity which is excellent in respect of the characteristics for the Engaged University which are described in the University's Vision and Strategy for the Engaged University. Further details of the criteria are available in guidance (download, docx format, 16KB).

Deadline for submission
Application forms (download, docx format, 14KB) should be submitted to the Centre for Public Engagement by email to cpe-info@bristol.ac.uk by 1 March 2011.

Further information
Please look at the guidance (download, docx format, 16KB), or contact the Centre for Public Engagement.

Worklessness in Bristol - 12 January 2011

2010-12-22T10:38:00.001Z

Worklessness in Bristol: how do we make the difference in challenging times?

Tell us your thoughts, share your experiences- the good, the bad and the ugly!

Wednesday 12th January 2011

On behalf of Sarah Morrison, Bristol City Council

Dear Colleagues & Stakeholders

Apologies if you receive this invitation more than once.

We would like to invite you to a one-day ‘Open Space’ styled event, which will bring together a range of stakeholders who are interested in tackling worklessness within Bristol. Addressing and combating worklessness is not straightforward and often requires consideration of a number of complex issues.

You may already know of a service or type of support that works well and want to share your ideas with others. We are very aware that one solution will not suit everyone so we need to hear all your ideas.

Through listening to you we will be able to gather up all your ideas and share them with stakeholders, policy makers and service providers.

We do hope that you will find the time to attend this event and we would be grateful if you could bring this to the notice of relevant colleagues.
Date: Wednesday 12th January 2011

Time: 9.30am - 3.30pm (Including lunch)

Venue: The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR
Registering for the event:

The event is free but you need to complete and return the attached booking form by Friday 8th January 2011 (apologies - no booking form attached - please contact Sarah)

If you have any queries or would like any further information, please contact Sarah Morrison on 0117 9224541 or Email sarah.morrison@bristol.gov.uk

What is Open Space?

o Based in the belief that organizations and communities run on passion and responsibility. It allows groups of any size to self-organize around what they really care about to get things done

o A natural communication process that recognizes that people take responsibility to pursue what they are passionate about, and it ensures that what is important to each participant will be discussed

o Centred around self-organising and self-managing groups of people that within a minimal methodological framework of procedures develop their own way of working, based on the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that already exist within the group

o Passion bounded by responsibility, the energy of a good coffee break, intentional self-organization, spirit at work, chaos and creativity, evolution in organization, and a simple, powerful way to get people and organizations moving -- when and where it’s needed most

For more information on Open Space visit www.openspaceworld.org

Changing Perspectives - get involved

2010-12-16T11:39:00.004Z

Changing perspectives is a series of events in March and April 2011 that explores the fascinating relationships between art and science. Through exhibitions, talks, workshops and performances, we want to see how art can draw different disciplines together, open up discussions about a range of issues and spark new insights for all.

There will be a 6-week exhibition of life science and medicine-inspired art at the Grant Bradley Gallery in Bedminster, and a month-long exhibition of physical sciences-inspired work at the Bristol Gallery. We'll be featuring work by recognised artists, writers, researchers and students. Alongside the exhibitions we're running a series of talks and workshops, and we're also staging a weekend of performance and interactive demonstrations at Circomedia in St Pauls, mixing anatomy, physiology and biomechanics with circus performance and body painting.

How can you get involved?

1. Taking your subject to the street - February and March 2011
Think creatively about how to get people inspired about your research - mini performances, conversations, science busking - anything is possible. Raise the profile of the Changing Perspectives series.

2. Volunteering at ‘Experience Changing Perspectives’ interactive event – 18/19 March 2011
at Circomedia Circus and Physical Theatre venue, St Pauls
• Anatomical body painting
• Presenting interactive anatomy and physiology
• Stewarding school and public groups

3. Volunteering at the exhibitions –
25 March-31 April 2011 at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bedminster
1-31 April at the Bristol Gallery, Millennium Square
• Anatomical body painting for the opening night (25 March)
• Interpreting the exhibition for school and public groups

4. Volunteering at evening talks and workshops – various dates 25 March-31 April 2011
at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bristol Gallery and City Museum and Art Gallery
See the Changing Perspectives event page for more information

5. Generating a piece of collaborative art with members of the public
• Exchange perspectives on the body with patients and members of the public
• Develop a collaborative artwork for the exhibition

6. Submitting your own work
• Submit and show your own science-inspired art work as part of the exhibition
• Perform at ‘Experience Changing Perspectives’ or at the exhibition opening night

If you want to contribute to the series in any way, contact Dane Comerford in the Centre for Public Engagement – dane.comerford@bristol.ac.uk

Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion - A World in Waiting

2010-12-13T09:42:00.002Z

Posted on behalf of Nick Thomas at the Pierian Centre:

A World in Waiting is the final event of the European Year for Combating Poverty & Social Exclusion in Bristol - asking the question: What courageous changes must we make to forge a Fairer Future? On February 10th 2011 Colston Hall will be filled with a huge diversity of people focused on the world we want to create. It will be a unique meeting of policy-makers, organisations and, crucially, those actually experiencing poverty and social exclusion - those often with no voice at all. It's a chance to explore and assert what 'Localism' and the 'Big Society' really mean - and then to produce practical 'policy asks' for central Government.

A World in Waiting is free, but tickets must be booked from Colston Hall box office. Do join us - and do pass the information on. You are very much part of this - and we really want you to be there!

Thurs 10th February 2011 10am–5pm at Colston Hall, Bristol BS1 5AR
Bookings: 0117 922 3686 or www.colstonhall.org/boxoffice
Info: info@pieriancentre.com. Please bring your own lunch!

Engagers Digest - 24/11/10

2010-11-24T14:46:00.005Z

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to another edition of the digest, with a range of interesting opportunities in the arts and sciences, and an important update on the REF...

In this issue...

REF Impact pilot report [policy update]
M-Shed Higher Education event - 1 December 2010 [networking event]
AHRC/Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers - deadline 10 December 2010 [media opportunity]
Public engagement workshop using Ketso - 10 December (Manchester) and 24 January (London) [workshop]
Science Communication Conference - 25/26 May 2011 [conference]

Back to contents

1. REF Impact pilot report [policy update]
In 2009/10 Hefce ran a pilot exercise of the proposed 'Impact' sections of the REF. The University of Bristol was one of 27 institutions that made submissions. The submissions have now been analysed by expert panels, and a press release and full report are available from the Hefce site, with recommendations for how research impact, including impact through public engagement, should be assessed in the REF.

Read Maggie's thoughts on how the report relates to public engagement on the CPE REF webpage (PDF, 94 KB) , or leave your comments on this blog post.

Please note that the Centre for Public Engagement is very happy to offer support to researchers in thinking about and describing the impact of their work, particularly in the areas of societal impact and skills. Please contact Philippa or Maggie to discuss.

Back to contents

2. M-Shed Higher Education event - 1 December 2010, 2pm–4pm [networking event]
Join us to discuss what a partnership with Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives may offer you and your students. Find out more about M Shed, Bristol’s new museum opening in 2011; enjoy an exclusive preview with a guided tour of the building; discover the range of opportunities we offer Higher Education; meet our museum learning team and some of our expert curators; network with professional colleagues from across the region. Light refreshments will be available.

M Shed, Princes Wharf, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 4RN
RSVP by Monday 29 November to Jane Hack, Learning Officer
Tel: 0117 9223619 or E-mail: jane.hack@bristol.gov.uk

Back to contents

3. AHRC/Radio 3 New Generation Thinkers - deadline 10 December 2010 [media opportunity]
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and BBC Radio 3 have joined forces to find the next generation of public intellectuals. We have launched New Generation Thinkers - a pilot talent scheme for emerging academics with a passion for communicating the excitement of modern scholarship to a wider audience and who have an interest in broader cultural debate.

Up to 60 applicants will have the opportunity to develop programme ideas. More information is available from the AHRC site. In the first instance please contact Dara O'Hare or Hannah Johnson in the University Press Team.

Back to contents

4. Public engagement workshop using Ketso - 10 December (Manchester) and 24 January (London) [workshop]
The developer of Ketso, a hands-on kit for effective group work (Joanne Tippett, University of Manchester) is offering two free workshops, one held at the University of Manchester on 10 December 2010 and one at King's College, London on 24 January 2011. The dialogue will be focussed around 'delivering public engagement, outreach, skills development and enterprise promotion in Universities in a time of budget cuts'.

Please check the Ketso website for further details and for videos of Ketso in Higher Education: http://www.ketso.com/news-events/upcoming-events

Back to contents

5. Science Communication Conference - 25/26 May 2011 [conference]
The British Science Association is working in partnership with the Wellcome Trust to organise this annual event at Kings Place, London. The Conference addresses the key issues facing science communicators in the UK, and each year brings together people who are involved in public engagement - a diverse group of people from a broad range of backgrounds. It is a fantastic opportunity to network, share ideas and good practice. In 2011 there will be a theme of 'online engagement'; submit any proposals for sessions by 26 November via the British Science Association site

Back to contents
Other items of interest:

Synthetic Biology Science Cafe - 30 November 6pm, Chemistry Department. Details here
Science Writing Summer School - 18-22 July 2011, Bristol http://sciwriteworkshop.wordpress.com/
UALL 2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE - Part Time: the new paradigm for higher education? 20-22 March 2011 at the University of Stirling

That's all for this issue of the Digest. As always we're happy to hear your feedback on the blog or by email.

Best wishes,

Philippa

Visit bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement

Read the latest public engagement stories at bristol.ac.uk/publicengagementstories

REF Impact Pilot and public engagement

2010-11-24T11:52:00.005Z

Here are some thoughts from Maggie Leggett in the Centre for Public Engagement about the recent report on the REF Impact Pilot:

Public engagement questions arising from the REF Impact Pilot report

In November 2010, Hefce issued a report of the findings from the Impact Pilot exercise, conducted with 27 institutions (including the University of Bristol) in 2009/10. The full report is available here - http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2010/refpilot.htm

In general, from a public engagement perspective this report is positive. There is a recommendation specifically that public engagement should be counted as impact, and looking through the case studies submitted obviously many institutions submitted PE case studies. Features of strong public engagement case studies include:

i. There was a clear link between the department’s research and the engagement activity.
ii. Evidence was provided about dissemination (such as audience or visitor numbers) as well as a clear explanation of the significance or benefits to the audiences.
iii. The activity went beyond ‘business as usual’ engagement (such as public lectures), and attracted widespread interest or involved a programme of activity which was often innovative and was sustainable or created ‘legacy’ resources.
iv. In some cases there were additional, clearly identified benefits to ‘intermediaries’ (such as cultural institutions or curators), local communities or to the economy.

There are, however, some outstanding issues:

1. Evidencing the impact of PE activity. There is an assertion that ‘just activity is not enough’, e.g. ‘Submissions should...make a case for the benefits arising from the public engagement activity. This must go beyond showing how the research was disseminated.’ This seems contradictory with statements elsewhere in the report, where for example media activity with an estimate of audience number is applauded as an end in itself. Assuming activity is not enough, we need clarity on the evidence of the effect of public engagement that is required. It needs to be accepted that in some cases, evidencing the effects of public engagement would require extensive further research to understand what, if any, change in behaviour or knowledge had been prompted by involvement in a public engagement activity. Earlier iterations with HEFCE suggested they had understood this challenge, and would not require that level of evidence. There is mention of satisfaction surveys in the report, and (whatever my personal views are on the value of such things) we need to know if that sort of thing is sufficient evidence, or if they are looking for something more involved (and if so what)

2. Media activity. In the physics feedback there is the following statement which I simply don’t understand: “Care must be taken not to simply reward the efforts of outreach activities themselves as that does not give a clear indication of the quality, and hence societal impact, of the underlying research. Thus, once the issue of ‘sexy’ or media-friendly research topics is factored out it is quite appropriate to assume that greater media interest in a research programme means just that: a greater impact of the research.” I would say media activity is a process, not an impact – but the last sentence of the quote seems to suggest otherwise.

3. Further guidance. There is an assertion from the earth sciences panel that “the panel felt that further guidance on assessing the impact of public engagement would be helpful”. I would suggest we recommend that this guidance is produced in consultation with the HE community, through the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (which HEFCE funds and of course which we host in partnership with UWE)

4. Cross over with environment section. There is a comment suggesting that departments should have ‘active, operationalised public engagement activity’ – to show continued engagement with issues rather than one off activity. Whilst I think this is laudable, there may be some inevitable cross over with the environment section

5. What does 4* look like? Finally, I don’t find the report helpful in showing what 4* public engagement case study would look like. I think prompting them to either produce very clear criteria, or mock up examples would be helpful

Some of the pilot case studies have now been published, see http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/impact/. There are public engagement case studies in English and in Physics, and although they are not graded, they were highly rated by the panels and are published as exemplars. It seems to me there is little 'evidence' of behaviour change - panels have been satisfied with media reach/visitor numbers/satisfaction surveys etc. I would argue that's a good thing, as depending on the project it's almost impossible to get that evidence without running a second research project. The prevalence of working with the media is striking - possibly because it is easy to make the reach sound impressive.

Three members of the Impact Working group have attended meetings with Hefce and Pilot panel members. They have raised some of the above issues. Although no specific answers have been forthcoming, there was a sense that in theory engagement ought to be shown to have some kind of transforming effect to count as highly rated impact. On the other hand it is recognized that finding evidence of this is difficult.

Download this document from the CPE Impact site, or leave your comments below:

30 November - Synthetic biology science cafe: science and ethics

2010-11-22T17:29:00.003Z

Image (c) David Goodsell

Posted on behalf of Zack Mummery, Chemistry:

Synthetic biology: science and ethics

18:00 - 20:00, 30 November 2010, Post-grad coffee lounge, School of Chemistry, Bristol University

Synthetic Biology can be broadly described as the design and construction of new biological systems not found in nature. The field encompasses aspects of biology, biochemistry, chemistry and engineering. This science café aims to explore the science and ethical implications of this fascinating subject, in an informal setting which promotes discussion and debate.

More information: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/scn/news/2010/32.html

Living with global environmental uncertainty - public launch of Bristol University's Cabot Institute

2010-11-15T16:12:00.000Z

Today (Monday 15 November) sees the launch of a new multidisciplinary research institute focused on living with global uncertainty. The Cabot Institute is a major new venture at the University of Bristol.

It brings together world-leading expertise in the natural, physical and social sciences to tackle the issues society faces in living with global uncertainty - from food and energy security and the supply of clean water to preventing natural disasters and understanding the politics of catastrophes.

To mark the launch of the Institute, a Question Time style event is taking place, open to all, with a panel of leading environmental scientists, policy makers and campaigners. The panel includes: Sir Crispin Tickell, Director of Policy Foresight Programme, and author of Climatic Change and World Affairs; the Hon Sir Jonathon Porritt, Founder Director of Forum for the Future; Julie Hill of the Green Alliance; Brendon Gormley, Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee; and Professor Ric Parker, Rolls-Royce Director of Research and Technology. The discussion will be chaired by Dr Julian Hector, Head of Natural History Radio at the BBC.

Some of the questions and answers during the evening will be posted here and we invite everyone to continue the conversations after the event by responding to the blog posts.

For further information, see bristol.ac.uk/cabot.
Follow us on Twitter, or tweet about this discussion using #cabot.

If you prefer to send us feedback or comments by email, please use cabot-launch@bristol.ac.uk
.

Question: "What new alliances are needed to address the question 'How should we live with global uncertainty'?"

2010-11-15T14:45:00.005Z

Discussion round up and conclusions. Living with global environmental uncertainty: What next?

To round up the evening's discussion event, each panelist was invited to outline some areas of future focus.

Ric Parker: Get PhD students doing truly interdisciplinary research. Risk provides a huge area of research. The Cabot Institute could take on communicating this risk.

Jonathan Porritt: We're surrounded by deep-seated problems. We need to support the role of anger in society. It's time for us all to wake up to the injustices currently taking place - it's starting to happen with students today - but it's going to be a very different protest movement.

Crispin Tickell: the first priority would be to try and get a coherent programme so that people can see one problem in terms of another - this is a role for the academic community. Also need to communicate this with politicians and make a coherent case - link the world of academia and politics through improved understanding and clearer language. Need to think differently and communicate about the character of our society and where it's going.

Brendan Gormley: The security debate has a huge impact - it is good that this is part of the Cabot Institute's menu. Need to make links with academic institutions in the most risk-prone parts of the world - so that they can be at the front of change. The world is creating blocks that can reduce the impact of research. Need to improve linkages with other parts of the world, to increase impact/knowledge of research and make it accessible through comprehensive language.

Question: "Since everyone knows that natural disasters will continue to occur,...?"

2010-11-15T13:57:00.005Z

Since everyone knows that natural disasters will continue to occur, hitting the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world with greater frequency, are there any alternatives to emergency relief assistance - which continues to treat such events as abnormal occurrences?

Brendan Gormley: Such events are becoming more common place. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) now runs two appeals per year - used to be three appeals every two years. These events will continue and we will close our eyes to vulnerability. Many people are living in this situation - this is the reality. However, the humanitarian community is getting better at responding and more lives are being saved, and livelihoods safeguarded. How can we shift to earlier intervention? This is where the effort should be made. There is a certain discourse and language associated with disasters that means we tend to respond too late.

Jonathan Porritt: Accelerating climate change is likely to have terrible impact on marginal groups and populations living on the fringes. The economy is flawed: corporations make short-term gains without considering long-term impact upon the environment.

Crispin Tickell: Need to look at the recent history of science - don't believe we've had more disasters - we just know about them more now and the impact upon humans has been greater (due to vastly increased world population). Therefore impact is catastrophic in the light of human population increase. TheUN should set up a risks agency - there is a notable lack of one - to reduce the human impact of natural disasters as well as human generated risk.

Ric Parker: I hope that we can get to a stage when we can predict the occurence of disasters. We're not there yet. There could be a role for the Cabot Institute here - what computer/technological power do we need to get to this position?

Brendan Gormley: We also need to consider the impact of urbanisation with relation to natural disasters - like the earthquake in Haiti - which is significant. We're not prepared for the impact of disasters on urban populations.

The member of the audience who asked the original question: Satisfied with answer - but called for clarification about the proposed UN Risk Agency.

Question: "A global environment leader has yet to emerge. Where will...?"

2010-11-15T13:56:00.005Z

A global environment leader has yet to emerge. Where will this person come from and is the environmental movement’s miserable ‘doom and gloom’ image holding back potential figureheads?

Jonathan Porritt: Many potential leaders are prevented from being so. Not for lack of visionary people, such as Wangari Maathai, who are involved with fantastic work or who have an amazing vision for a better world. This sort of leadership is not given much space by our current right-wing leader.

Brendan Gormley: These people do exist and are often uncomfortable people to be with. We have a fragmented world - pulling all the disparate strands of this world and differing sectors together, requires a certain set of skills. A non-supportive media can make this difficult.

Ric Parker: Al Gore was probably going for this position. We need current global leaders to finally 'get it' , for example, if a US president put the environment at the top of the agenda, that would be very powerful. It needs to come from within the system.

Jonathan Porritt: The idea of an American president leading us to an environmental nirvana? phewwww!

Ric Parker: We need change now - and internal change from within the system.

Crispin Tickell: Margaret Thatcher provided strong leadership on climate change. She got it, as both a scientist and a politician. You need leadership from within the system - you need to use the current levers of power to bring about change.

Member of the public who asked the question: Liked what he'd heard - followed up with question about the media skewing information. Questioned the role of the internet in providing more balanced information and whether it brings about change.

Jonathan Porritt: It has a fundamental role - it allows connections across the world, and will grow and grow. Very powerful force for change.

Audience member: Made a point about the internal leadership discussion. Was not happy about the afternoon launch of the Institute being a closed, invite-only session. Said that it looked like a 'boys club', and questioned what sort of model the Cabot Institute will adopt? He also made the point that decisions are not always made on the back of hard evidence.

Audience member: We need more scientists in politics. How can politics become a more palatable career choice for scientists?

Ric Parker: This is a very good point. There is a very small number of scientists among our politicians and therefore there is very little understanding. It's a similar situation within the civil service. This is vital: we're not going to have the right leadership in the country without this knowledge and understanding.

Question:"This new Cabot Institute sounds like a great idea but...?"

2010-11-15T13:55:00.011Z

This new Cabot Institute sounds like a great idea, ... but then I wonder how can you address the point that we already have so much technology and more than enough solutions from proponents of change - they simply aren't being put in place. Isn't the real issue now to get institutions and people to change? What can the Institute do to change this? Member of the public

Crispin Tickell: A big problem is the failure of the academic world to communicate to the public in ways that they understand and also with the political world. You need to use the right language - the academic community has responsibility to expressing itself in language that people and politicians can understand.

[He then goes on to provide an example - with a definition of Sustainable Development as 'treating the earth as if we intend to stay!']

Jonathan Porritt: We need greater understanding/acknowledgement from the political class that there are physical boundaries on the limits of this planet.

Brendan Gormley: New entities need to concentrate on risk taking and collaboration - in which case a new centre is welcome. Translation of the lessons from the ground into policy is key. Need more research linked to change and policy.

Ric Parker: The Cabot Institute is exciting, as it is not just about technology but is also about people and how they can use technology. There is great potential for great research in the future. In terms of behaviour change, social sciences can also make big contributions to the world of technology through knowledge of the public and human behaviour. Therefore their contribution is key.

Crispin Tickell: People now understand that there are real problems (with climate change) in the way that they didn't in the past.

The member of the public who asked the question: Behaviour change is the most important point - since technology might fall by the wayside. He is concerned by inertia and thinks that many simple solutions that could be applied aren't and that many barriers are in place which prevent change regarding climate change.

Brendan Gormley: We need to question who is listening and who is not - perhaps those living closest to climate change should be listened to most (e.g. people of Haiti at the moment).

From the audience: Can they provide examples of behaviour change?

Audience member: Recycling - this has been a profound change, as well as attitudes to smoking etc. While there are plenty of examples of positive behaviour change, there is also much negative discourse, which is unhelpful.

Audience member: Long-term behaviour change requires long-term policy planning.

Audience member: Working with companies and communities shows that people welcome change and positive interventions. It's good to highlight some of the opportunities related to behaviour change and not just the negative, e.g. boost to local economy.

Jonathan Porritt: Look at what motivates people to change: coercion, seduction, persuasion. Politicians need to find the right balance between these - therefore demonstrating positive stories related to climate change, and not just apocolyptic perspectives, has great potential. For example, creating jobs, innovation, creativity, patents derived through investment in clean technology etc., but we need to do more, or at least, politicians need to do more. We need a change of language - to make it more upbeat and positive.

Audience member/Professor of Sociology:
Peturbed by the framing of the debate focusing on the level of the individual. Social structures, inequality etc. are not being considered. There is need to focus more on social structural change, rather than individual behavioural change. Need to change how the global economy changes.

Brendan Gormley: We need to start with those communities that are being adversely affected by climate change.

Audience member: What can be done to convince the sceptics?

Ric Parker: The debate is more about how much the climate is changing, rather than what to do about the fact that it is. The evidence shows that the planet is warming up, and is linked with our industrial practice.

Crispin Tickell: Not all of the debate is respectable. The science is overwhelming, but there are uncertainties - where are the tipping points? The sceptics must be willing to change their minds when the counter-evidence becomes overwhelming - and this isn't happening. There is a big campaign to devalue science of this nature.

Researcher survey about public engagement

2010-11-15T09:16:00.003Z

A message from Vitae:

Dr Sarah Davies is running one of 2010's Vitae Innovate projects, which will focus on better understanding researchers' thinking on and experience of public engagement with the aim of informing policy and development activities in this area.

Sarah writes:

The first stage of the project involves a short survey targeted at all research staff which seeks to have as wide a take-up as possible. I'd be incredibly grateful, then, if you could publicise this survey amongst research staff at your institution.

The survey can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/s/vitaesurvey. Respondents have the opportunity to win an Amazon or iTunes voucher through their participation.

There is also a blog post about the survey on Vitae's Research Staff Blog: www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/156431-310241/Roll-up-roll-up. If you have questions about the project then please do drop me a line at Sarah.Davies@asu.edu. In
the meantime, thank you for your help with driving forward this research!

Regards, Sarah Davies

Engagers Digest - 10/11/10

2010-11-10T10:24:00.031Z

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to another issue of the Engagers Digest.

We're thinking about creative ways to support training in public engagement across the University, and would like to start an informal mentoring scheme whereby people with public engagement experience help those just starting out. If you would be willing to be a mentor - which could involve just a one-off chat with someone, or more regular meetings - or if you feel you would benefit from a mentor, please get in touch with Philippa. Thank you!

In this issue...

Case studies wanted for 'Science for All' Expert Panel - engaging 'unusual' audiences - deadline 12 November
[case study]

Museums, Researchers and Engagement: Working together to develop our skills
25 January 2011, London
[event]

NCCPE national conference - 8/9 December 2010, London
[conference]

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust - 4 January 2011
[funding]

Healthy Heart Grants - 28 February 2011
[funding]

And a few items of interest:

ENCOUNTERING THE ARCHIVE - 18 November 2010: Department of Drama and Encounters Film Festival
[event]

Read Science Faculty Fiction Writer-in-Residence Tania Hershman's post on the Wellcome Collection blog
[blog]

Back to contents

1. Case studies about engaging 'unusual' audiences with the sciences - deadline 12 November [case study]
As part of a project for The Science for All Expert panel set up by The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the British Science Association is looking for 20 UK case studies that highlight excellence in engaging diverse publics with the sciences. Case study proposals are very brief but have to be submitted by 12 November; full case studies will be requested if chosen. More information in this blog post

Back to contents

2. Museums, Researchers and Engagement: Working together to develop our skills - 25 January 2011, London [event]

The NCCPE and the Beacons for Public Engagement have come together to host a workshop based around the excellent work already being done between universities, research institutes and museums. In partnership with the University Museums Group, this event aims to:

- Develop mutual understanding between the research community and museums;
- Showcase effective practice through a number of case studies highlighting the many ways universities and museums can work together;
- Strengthen networking between museums and universities through exploring skills development and training;
- Provide opportunities for people to explore potential projects.
We would like to encourage you bring a partner from a university/museum. However if you haven't got a partner we would still encourage you to attend the event and we will allocate you a partner during the day.

Case studies are invited and need to be submitted by 20 November - for more details please see the NCCPE events page

Back to contents

3. The conference of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement [conference]
The Engaged University: Embracing Change - is on 7/8 December. If you are interested in attending there is now a waiting list. More information is available on the NCCPE site.

Back to contents

4. Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust - 4 January 2011 [funding]

The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust grant making programme is open for applications. Within the UK, the Trust makes grants to both organisations and individuals for activities that relate to:
• Peace and conflict resolution.
• Promoting racial justice.
• Power and responsibility.
• Quaker concerns.
The Trust tends to fund work that is on a national level and there are no maximum grant limits although the Trust does stress that costings need to be realistic.

The next deadline for applications is 9 pm on the 4th January 2011.
More information from: http://www.jrct.org.uk/

Back to contents

5. Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants - 28 February 2011 [funding]

These grants support innovative projects designed to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities, up to £10,000. More information from the Heart Research UK site.

Back to contents

Items of interest:

1. ENCOUNTERING THE ARCHIVE: A collaboration between the Department of Drama and Encounters Film Festival

Thurs Nov 18; Wickham Theatre, Department of Drama, University of Bristol
Tickets available here

Encountering the Archive is an event (panel 5pm followed by screening 7pm) which
delves into the fascinating ethical issues surrounding film archives and
the use of archive film material. Is there a right or wrong way to use
archive film? Is it possible to betray an original meaning or purpose?
Should archivists have any say in the re-use and recycling of work from
their collections?

Back to contents

That's all for this issue of the Digest. As always we're happy to hear your feedback

Best wishes

Philippa

Visit bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement

Read the latest public engagement stories at bristol.ac.uk/publicengagementstories

Call for case studies - by 12/11/10

2010-11-10T09:19:00.000Z

Toby Shannon from the British Science Association writes:

Have you completed a project working with ‘unusual’ audiences or reaching them in ‘unusual’ ways?

As part of a project for The Science for All Expert panel set up by The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, we’re looking for 20 UK case studies that highlight excellence in engaging diverse publics with the sciences.

We would love to include some of your most unusual and diverse projects. This might involve work you have done with a group that is not perhaps generally catered for in science engagement (for example teenage mums, refugees, prisoners, certain community groups), or working with groups in less usual settings (such as music festivals, hospital wards or holiday parks).

In addition, we are seeking case studies that highlight innovative ways in which your organisations have worked with grass-roots organisations, for example Transition Towns, astronomy groups or organic food co-operatives, where the initiative is led from outside the science engagement community.

We would ask anyone who is interested in submitting a case study to send a brief summary of your project(s) to toby.shannon@britishscienceassociation.org by November 12th. Please use the format given in the example below.

20 case studies will be selected and compiled, and will form part of a ‘how-to’ guide to inspire greater creativity nationally in reaching diverse audiences , so this could be a good opportunity to gain publicity for good work you are doing in reaching new audiences . Case studies are also being sought through the science centres and other networks and the final selection will represent a broad range of UK-wide projects. Feel free to submit as many different projects as you wish, so long as they involve the sciences in their broadest form. We know ‘unusual suspects’ means different things to different people, so please use the above examples as a guide.

Selection of the 20 case studies
If your project is one of the 20 selected nationally we will ask you to fill in a short form, and then we would call you to interview you to flesh out the details.

This project is a collaboration between the British Science Association, Association of Science and Discovery Centres and the UK Science Festivals network and case studies will be sought from all sectors.

Sample project summary
Name: perspectives poster competition
Participants: Researchers and General Public
Summary: The perspectives poster competition was designed to engage researchers with the social implications of their research by creating posters which could be used to spark conversations with members of the public. The researchers were placed within a shopping centre during the British Science Festival in order to engage members of the public who would not normally attend a science event, in a non-scientific environment. The posters were designed with a minimum of text and data but to be visually arresting to inspire conversation around the research between the public and the participants.

_____________________________
The British Science Association is a charity that works with members, supporters and partners towards a shared vision of a society in which people are able to access science, engage with it and feel a sense of ownership about its direction. You can find us at www.britishscienceassociation.org.

Toby Shannon
Science in Society Officer

Engagers Digest - 28/10/10

2010-10-28T10:20:00.021+01:00

Dear Colleagues

Welcome to another issue of the Engagers Digest. First some dates for your diary: the conference of the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement - The Engaged University: Embracing Change - is on 7/8 December. Book your place online now at: www.survey.bris.ac.uk/nccpe/nccpeconference.

A number of Twilight Talks are also taking place in November on: Remembering Conscientious Objectors (9/11), Children of the 90s (11/11) and Eadgyth - Bones of an Anglo-Saxon Princess with Mark Horton (29/11). Please support your colleagues and spread the word - see bristol.ac.uk/twilight-talks for further information.

Find out what else has been happening in the world of public engagement with the arts by reading some recent public engagement stories:

Fanfiction gets a good reception
Pick up a penguin
Philosophical podcasts

More stories are available online.

In this issue...

Comic Relief - International Grants Programme(UK)
[funding]

The Ecosystems Services for Poverty Alleviation Programme (UK)
[funding]

Art of Science, Tuesday 9 November
[exhibition]

Engaging with community members and stakeholders, Thursday 11 November
[workshop]

Partnership Grants Funding Workshop, Tuesday 23 November
[workshop]

What's on guide - November issue
[publication]

Back to contents

1. Comic Relief - International Grants Programme (UK) [funding]
UK-registered charities who are active in the developing world who work closely with local organisations, especially in Africa can apply for International funding through Comic Relief. UK-registered charities can apply for grants through a number of grant programmes including Trade, People Affected by HIV and AIDS, People Affected by Conflict, Street and Working Children and Young People, People Living in Urban Slums, Women and Girls, Sport for Change and the Common Ground Initiative.

The deadline for applications is midnight on the 22nd February 2011. Further information is available.

Back to contents

2. The Ecosystems Services for Poverty Alleviation Programme (UK) [funding]
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has announced the launch of the Ecosystems Services for Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) programme, which aims to deliver a planned seven year interdisciplinary research programme to ensure that ecosystems in the developing world are managed sustainably, contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable growth. NERC invites proposals for research consortium projects to address this agenda.

The deadline for full proposals is 4 pm on the 19th January 2011.
Further information on the call is available online.

Back to contents

3. Art of Science, Tuesday 9 November [exhibition]

Art of Science is an annual art competition for Medical Science researchers inspired to produce art from their medical research. An exhibition of this year's entries, prize giving and a wine reception will take place on Tuesday 9 November in the Students Common Room in the Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, BS8 1TD.

For further information, contact Becky Jones; rebecca.jones@bristol.ac.uk. Read about last year's competition.

Back to contents

4. Engaging with community members and stakeholders, Thursday 11 November
[workshop]

This workshop introduces a hands-on toolkit for creative groupwork, Ketso. Ketso is a social enterprise spin off from Dr Joanne Tippett's research into community engagement at the University of Manchester. Since then, the toolkit has been used in transferable skills development, including enterprise training at various universities. In this workshop, Ketso will be used to explore the topic – ‘Planning for sustainability in the South West and Wales in a time of budget cuts’.
To register for the workshop, please contact Elaine Speakman; elaine@ketso.com. Download the flier [PDF,438 KB].

Back to contents

5. Partnership Grants Funding Workshop, Tuesday 23 November [workshop]
The Royal Society's education section is holding a Partnership Grants funding workshop at the Royal Society in London on Tuesday 23 November, 17.30 to 19.30. The Partnership Grants scheme offers funding of up to £3000 for teachers, scientists and engineers to work together to inspire young people. The free workshop will provide the chance to find out what makes a good application for funding and how to develop a successful Partnership Grant project.

If you would like to attend this event, please contact: education@royalsociety.org before Friday 12 November.

Back to contents

6. What's on guide - November issue [publication]
The November issue of the What's On guide to public events at the University is now available online. A bumper issue this month, packed with lectures, twilight talks, concerts, theatre and courses, there's something going on for everyone. To advertise your own public event in the guide, please contact Laura Greenwood; email: laura.greenwood@bristol.ac.uk. The new November version will shortly be available to download from our website.

Back to contents

That's all for this issue of the Digest. Hope you're enjoying the new term.

Best wishes
Laura

Visit bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement

Read the latest public engagement stories at bristol.ac.uk/publicengagementstories

Engagers' Digest - 6/10/10

2010-10-04T18:10:00.009+01:00

Dear all,

This is the first Digest since the Engage conference - so welcome to all newcomers to the list. The conference, on 23 September, was a really interesting, varied day, with people commenting, questioning and participating as well as making lots of useful new connections. There's still time to fill out your feedback form as a PDF, or please leave comments on this blog post.

You can access podcasts from all of the plenary sessions, with their accompanying presentations from this blogpage - centreforpublicengagement.blogspot.com/2010/09/engage-2010-plenary-sessions-audio-and.html . Delegate pack materials and resources from the workshop are on this blogpage - centreforpublicengagement.blogspot.com/2010/09/engage-2010-research-inspired-fiction.html. Please feel free to use and circulate to interested colleagues.

In the Digest this time:

Higher Education STEM project - EOI deadline 13 October [grant]
Funding to Improve the Teaching of STEM – deadline 22 October 2010 [grant]
European Commission digital interactive content – deadlines 29 November 2010 and 11 April 2011 [grant]
NCCPE conference - 7 & 8 December 2010 [conference]
JISC digital communities - deadline 10 December 2010 [grant]
Lottery Fund International Programme – open deadline until March 2014 [grant]
Reaching Communities Programme – open deadline [grant]

1. Higher Education STEM project - EOI deadline 13 October
The Southwest Spoke of the HE STEM Project has grants of up to £10,000 to enhance STEM curriculum development, outreach and widening participation - http://www.bath.ac.uk/he-stem/news/news0004.html. Expressions of interest are due by 13 October, and full applications by the 30 November.

2. Funding to Improve the Teaching of STEM – deadline 22 October 2010
The Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) invites applications from learning and skills provider organisations delivering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects, to support projects to overcome barriers and provide additional opportunities for Continuing Personal or Professional Development (CPD). LSIS is inviting bids of up to £1,000 per subject area and the closing date for applications is 12 pm on the 22nd October 2010. http://www.lsis.org.uk/WorkingWithLSIS/Opportunities/funding-Opportunities/Pages/default.aspx

3. European Commission digital interactive content – deadlines 29 November 2010 and 11 April 2011
Support for European Independent production companies, for the concept development (up to a first playable application) of digital interactive content complementing an audiovisual project (drama, creative documentary or animation) specifically developed for at least one of the following platforms; Internet; PC; console; handheld device; and interactive television. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2010:262:0019:0021:EN:PDF

4. NCCPE conference - 7 & 8 December 2010
The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, which is jointly hosted by UoB and UWE, are holding their first national conference in December 2010. The conference will focus on the broad theme of why and how universities should engage the public, and will include work from their vinspired students project. More information and a registration form is available on the NCCPE site.

5. JISC digital communities - deadline 10 December 2010
JISC provides national infrastructure services to address the needs of all users in HE and FE. A couple of current calls for developing digital content, worth up to £100k, are relevant to public engagement: Enriching via collaboration and developing community content

6. Lottery Fund International Programme – open deadline until March 2014
The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) International Communities programme aims to help disadvantaged communities overseas by supporting work that tackles the causes of poverty and deprivation and brings about long-term differences to the lives of some of the most disadvantaged people in the world. The International Communities programme is open to UK based non-governmental organisations working with overseas partners. http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/index/funding-uk/new_programmes.htm#newproguk

7. Reaching Communities Programme – open deadline The Big Lottery Fund (BIG) is accepting applications to their Reaching Communities Programme, which provides grants of 10,000 - £500,000 for projects that help people and communities who are most in need, and can really make a difference. http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/prog_reaching_communities?tab=1&

Also:

Research into public engagement through festivals - can you contribute your experiences via this survey ?

Don't forget the Institute of Physics £1000 grant scheme - closes 8 November.

Best wishes,

Philippa

Engage 2010 - workshop resources

2010-10-04T15:27:00.007+01:00

Here are all the materials from the Engage 2010 delegate pack:

Final programme
Delegate list
Feedback form (if you haven't filled it out already!)
Who's your Engager?

The resources from the workshop sessions at Engage 2010 are also available for you to use and share:

Research-inspired fiction
Tania Hershman's workshop on research-inspired fiction, drawing on examples from science-inspired flash and longer fiction:
www.taniahershman.com/taniaengageworkshop2.pdf (PDF,15 Mb!)

Outcomes-based evaluation
A series of resources from Suzanne Spicer's workshop on Generic Social Outcomes and Generic Learning Outcomes:

Evaluation methods
Generic Learning Outcomes
Generic Social Outcomes
Evaluation workshop further reading

Suzanne's presentation:

Ss evaluation workshop presentation

View more presentations from University of Bristol Centre for Public Engagement.

Working with the media
Handout about interview skills from Kate Butler's practical workshop on working with the media

Developing new partnerships
Thoughts on partnership working from the workshop with Tom Sperlinger, Tove Samzelius and Sophie Duncan

Finding Funding
The finding funding workshop handout

Philippa Bayley's slides:

Finding funding pb

Andrew Wray's slides:

Engage 2010 wray

Ben Griffiths' slides:

Griffiths funding

Volunteering workshop
Volunteering handout from the workshop with Rachel Miller, David Owen and Dane Comerford

The web for engagement workshop
Sorry - no resources are available from this workshop at the moment

Public Perceptions of the University
Sorry - no resources are available from this workshop at the moment

Engage 2010 plenary sessions - audio and slides

2010-09-28T11:56:00.003+01:00

Thanks to the extremely efficient people at Backdoor Broadcasting, the audio from all of the plenary sessions at Engage 2010, and the accompanying slides, are all available at this site: http://backdoorbroadcasting.net/2010/09/engage-2010/

They will be archived there permanently, so feel free to link to your own sites and to share the material widely.

Workshop resources will be posted here later this week.

Thanks to those who came to Engage 2010 - a really interesting and stimulating day. If you didn't return your feedback form at the end of the day please complete it and send it to Philippa at the CPE.

Thanks!

Engage 2010 - happening tomorrow

2010-09-22T14:35:00.005+01:00

Engage 2010 - one-day public engagement conference at the University.

Taking place at Bristol University's Victoria Rooms, this one day conference covers the latest public engagement issues and themes with morning plenaries, a chance to find out what's going on at the University with a lunchtime share-fair/market place, then training sessions in the afternoon. The day will finish with drinks and a film screening - Mathematical Ethnographies - up at Royal Fort House.

We're going to be recording the whole thing on this blog and will make all materials (PDFs, presentations and podcasts)available through our website shortly after the event.

If you can't make it, keep an eye on this blog to see how things are going - if you can make it...hopefully it will be a useful record for you after the event. Comments very welcome! If you want to tweet, use #engage2010 - see twitter/cpe_bristol.

It should be a fascinating day! Back in touch tomorrow

Engagers' Digest - 8/9/2010

2010-09-06T11:26:00.008+01:00

Dear all,

I hope you're enjoying the last few weeks of (relative) quiet before term starts again.

Check out the new Public Engagement Stories - bristol.ac.uk/publicengagementstories and don't hesitate to come to us with ideas for other stories about all aspects of public engagement.

Registration for Engage 2010, on 23 September, is still open but very few places remain so please complete your registration form - bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/staff/training/engage2010.html - and send it in as soon as possible. If you have already registered for the conference we are also registering your afternoon workshop and training session choices via an online form - bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/staff/training/engage2010-workshops.html. We will have a broad representation from across the University and from external organisations at the event, and look forward to a stimulating day on the 23rd September.

In the Digest this time:

The Big Bang Fair (March 2011) - submit an activity [10 September 2010]
Idlewild Trust for the performing arts - deadline [24 September 2010]
Institute of Physics Public Engagement Grants - deadline [8 November 2010]
National Science and Engineering Week - Information session [8 November 2010]
UUK Conference: Making the case for higher education in the creative economy [7 December 2010]
National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) National Conference [7&8 December 2010]
Volant Charitable Trust - deadline [28 January 2011]

1. The Big Bang Fair (March 2011) - submit an activity by 10 September 2010
The UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair will run from 10-12 March 2011 at London's ExCel Centre. Contributions are invited including interactive stands, busking activities, hands-on workshops and theatrical shows; volunteering opportunities are also on offer. See www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/activities for more information, or email your activity to Georgina Goodman by lunchtime on 10 September.

2. Idlewild Trust - deadline 28 September
The Idlewild Trust supports registered charities concerned with the encouragement of excellence in the performing and fine arts and the preservation, for public benefit, of buildings and items of historical interest or national importance. Occasionally it also supports projects that conserve the natural environment. Grants of up to £5000 are available. Further information at www.idlewildtrust.org.uk

3. Institute of Physics Public Engagement Grants - deadline 8 November
Up to £1000 is available to support individuals and organisations running physics-based events and activities in the UK and Ireland. More information is available from www.iop.org/about/grants/outreach/page_38843.html

4. National Science and Engineering Week 2011 - Information session 8 November
NSEW, organised by the British Science Association, will run from 11-20 March 2011, with events across the country. Informal information sessions to help you plan events are being run in various venues; the closest to Bristol will be at Techniquest in Cardiff on Monday 8 November - Click to reserve your place. They have produced a Guide to Funding which outlines some of the potential sources of support for activities, but please note that the £2k RCUK NSEW awards will not be available for 2011.

5. Universities UK conference - Making the case for higher education in the creative economy - 7 December 2010
In light of the comprehensive spending review , and following the changes to the regional development funding structures, this UUK conference will assess what these changes mean for collaboration between higher education and the creative industries. Delegates will include Vice-chancellors, Pro vice-chancellors, Deans, Curriculum managers, as well as businesses from the creative industries. More information on the conference is available from the UUK site.

6. NCCPE conference - 7 & 8 December 2010
The NCCPE are hosting their first national conference in December 2010. The conference will focus on the broad theme of why and how universities should engage the public. Day one will focus on HEI public engagement. Day two will feature student volunteering, informed by their vinspired students project. More information and a registration form is available on the NCCPE site.

7. Volant Charitable trust
Registered charities whose purpose is to alleviate poverty and social deprivation with particular emphasis on children and women’s issues can apply for funding from the Volant Charitable Trust - http://www.volanttrust.com/index.html

And in other news: The Penguin Archive Project, a four-year University of Bristol project begun in May 2008 with a grant from the AHRC, is featured in a Radio 4 documentary on the history of Penguin Books presented by children's author Michael Morpurgo.

Kind regards,

Philippa

Engagers' Digest - 18/8/10

2010-08-18T09:42:00.010+01:00

Dear all,

Lots of interesting opportunities in the sciences and arts in this Digest, as well as the disappointing news that EPSRC are closing their major public engagement funding scheme - the Partnerships for Public Engagement. We'll be discussing 'public engagement in difficult times' at Engage 2010 on 23 September, and will also have contributions from RCUK. Places are running out, so register now at www.bristol.ac.uk/engage2010

1. EPSRC Partnerships for Public Engagement - no further calls
EPSRC recently announced that they will no longer be funding public engagement activities via the Partnerships for Public Engagement (PPE) scheme. As a consequence, the PPE call planned for this autumn will not go ahead. While this is very disappointing news, EPSRC and the other research councils remain committed to funding public engagement as part of research grants, as well as through the remaining schemes. For more information, please see the EPSRC press release:
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2010/Pages/publicengagementagenda.aspx

2. Grant opportunity: SportForce - deadline 3 September
Applications are invited from HEIs involved in teaching and/or research in science, education and medicine in sport to develop and co-brand a public event aimed at the communication of science and medicine in sport linked to the 2012 Games. This forms part of SportForce, the Public Engagement programme for the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine (ICSEMIS) in Sport 2012 and is supported by Research Councils UK and Podium. Selected institutions will be allocated £1,000 to contribute to the delivery of an event between October 2010 and January 2011. Applications close on the 3 September. Please go to http://www.podium.ac.uk/opportunities for more information.

3. The Colwinston Charitable Trust - deadline 30 September
The Colwinston Charitable Trust distributes grants to UK registered charitable organisations working predominantly in the areas of Opera, Classical Music and the Visual Arts. They offer grants of between £5,000 and £25,000 to enable organisations achieve higher standards of performance and/or presentation. The trust will give priority to high quality projects, and projects that help people to better appreciate the possibilities the arts can offer, especially in Wales. There next application deadline is 5 pm on the 30th September 2010.
http://www.colwinston.org.uk/index.htm

4. Calouste Gulbenkian/UnLtd Engage Awards - deadline 30 September
In response to the increasing ageing of the population and the challenges this will bring, UnLtd and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation have teamed to offer 30 Start-Up Awards of £2,500, and 3 awards of £15,000 to individuals and informal groups to improve the social issues faced by older people in their community. For more information: http://www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=202&PageName=caloustegulbenkianfoundation

5. 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

6. Engagement Opportunity: BBC1 Bang Goes The Theory
BBC1's primetime family science entertainment show is back, and along with it the ever popular Beacons Q&A – where academics from the beacons and Open University work together with the BBC to answer questions from the viewers - www.bbc.co.uk/bang/ask_yan/ If you've been involved before you'd be very welcome to return; if you've not, and you fancy trying your hand at drafting pithy and memorable answers to the amusing, oblique, frequent, or plain funny questions viewers send in - please do join us. The best place to start is: http://beaconsqanda.com/start Here, you'll find some more detailed introductory notes and links to the registration page.

7. Staff development course - Science writing for popular publication
Staff Development is offering a half day science writing for popular publication course on 24 November (SD1WPP) - sign up here

Finally, take a look at the new lifelong learning events and courses on offer in English, and the accompanying booklet with a range of inspiring stories - http://www.bristol.ac.uk/english/lifelong/shorts.html

Best wishes,

Philippa

Engagers' Digest - 4/8/2010

2010-08-04T17:15:00.013+01:00

Dear all,

A happily busy Digest for August - please forward any items of interest to your colleagues.

1. Engage 2010 - 23 September 2010, Victoria Rooms, Bristol
Your chance to share your public engagement experiences and resources with University colleagues and external partners. We have great speakers lined up, including city leaders Tom Trevor (Arnolfini), Annie Hudson (Children and Young People's Services, BCC) and Edel Fletcher (At-Bristol); Research Council representatives, networking opportunities and a variety of interesting workshop sessions including 'research-inspired fiction'. Register soon (as places are limited) - bristol.ac.uk/engage2010

2. STEM Communicator training - September 7 2010 - Thinktank, Birmingham
The British Interactive Group's Little Event returns to Thinktank on Tuesday 7th September from 10am – 5pm, with 15 bursaries available to cover your costs. The Little Event is for people who are relatively new to STEM communication, whether you work in a science centre or museum, volunteer for a festival, are involved in university outreach, or do anything else to engage people with sciences.
To book, and for more information, please click on www.big.uk.com/events/little-event/

3. UWE Science Communication Masterclass - 11-14 October 2010
The Masterclass is an intensive course created to provide professional development in science communication. The Masterclass draws on the existing expertise of the team that delivers UWE's popular and practical MSc in Science Communication. This Autumn’s Masterclass will be held in Bristol during 11-14 October 2010 and will cost £650 per delegate (£500 concessionary rate for students, unemployed and low earners).
For further information please visit http://www.scu.uwe.ac.uk/index.php?q=node/199 and complete the online registration form if you would like a place.

4. Wellcome Trust Society Awards - deadline 12 October 2010
The theme for this year's Wellcome Trust Society Awards is GREY MATTERS: Brain, Mind & Culture. Understanding the brain and mind remains one of sciences great challenges despite centuries of research. The Wellcome Trust are looking for exciting and innovative approaches that will explore any aspect of biomedical research into the brain and mind. You may wish to approach the theme from a medical, physiological, psychological, nutritional, genetic, evolutionary, cultural, sociological, economic, historical, ethical or public health point of view.
http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Grants/Society-Awards/index.htm

5. RAEng Ingenious awards - deadline 29 October 2010
Ingenious is a grant scheme for creative public engagement with engineering projects, which help engineers to communicate their expertise and passion for engineering to a wider audience. The Royal Academy of Engineering is also keen to receive project proposals that aim to encourage deeper discussions between engineers and the wider public about the implications of engineering for society (for example, cultural and ethical impacts).
Funding from £3,000 to £30,000 is available for projects that meet the criteria of the two funding streams.
Find out more by reading about previous projects in the case studies and hear what grant holders and engineers have to say about their Ingenious experience in four mini-films.
More information about the scheme here: www.raeng.org.uk/ingenious

6. Communicate Conference - November 3-4, 2010 – Bristol
Communicate 2010 is the annual conference for environmental communicators. The theme for 2010 is “Connecting with Nature”. Speakers include David Attenborough and Richard Benyon, MP. This year’s themes include: Biodiversity and Cities; Aspiration; Language - Beyond Words; Biodiversity and Social Health. For more information and to register: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/communicate/delegates/registration.html

7. Learning in Communities Award - deadline December 3 2010
UnLtd have teamed up with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE ) to offer one individual the chance to receive a Learning In Communities Award of up to £5,000 to establish a project to engage adults in learning. The award opens for applications on the 1st September 2010 and closes on the 3rd December 2010. http://www.unltd.org.uk/template.php?ID=201&PageName=learningincommunitiesaward

An interesting short think-piece on the Vitae website about the realities of public engagement for researchers in the UK:
http://www.vitae.ac.uk/researchers/260911-272401/Public-engagement-by-researchers.html

Finally - two UoB events of interest: Flower Power for the 21st Century - a free event on Thursday 5 August, 5:30pm about the science behind flowers, plants and seeds -http://www.bris.ac.uk/news/2010/7162.html. And the Policy and Politics Conference on 10 September - Politics of austerity or the austerity of politics? New social, economic and ecological challenges for the public sector - http://www.bris.ac.uk/sps/policyandpolitics/

Best wishes,

Philippa

One day courses in Participative Approaches to Community Development

2010-08-02T16:32:00.002+01:00

A great opportunity this week to learn about participatice approaches to community development from expert Zambian practitioners....

Dear Sir/madam,
It gives me great pleasure to invite yourself and colleagues to two one-day training courses being held in Bristol on the 2nd and 3rd of August at Hamilton House, Stokes Croft, Bristol.

My name is Michael Desson. I am a Director of Tikambilanie, a non-for-profit organisation working to promote sustainable community development in the UK. We work in close partnership with Kamoto Community Arts, a highly successful community arts group based in Zambia, whose international client list includes the British council and DFiD.

As part of our summer program, we are proud to be hosting Mary Manzole, one of the founders and Artistic director of Kamoto. She will be offering her expertise and insight to the Bristol community during two one-day training courses, and we would be delighted if representatives of your organisation could attend.

Each day's course will include the following elements:
Community Theatre for Development: Experiences, stories and lessons learnt from 20 years on the ground in Africa.
Using Arts to Foster Development
The Three types of community theatre for development: Theatre ‘by’, ‘with’ and ‘for’ the people.
The Process in Detail: The nine steps of theatre for development - From building trust to delivering change.

At £40, these courses represent remarkably good value to any organisation. (Some subsidised places are also still available.) The cost of the course includes digital and printed notes, and completion certificates; audio and video footage of the course will be made available online shortly afterwards. As an on-going aspect of Tikambilanie’s work, these courses pave the way for attendees participation in future projects both here and in Zambia.

Please refer to the attached poster for more information, and get in touch by this email address or by calling me directly on 07835 676 270 to discuss this opportunity and reserve places. I very much look forward to hearing from you.

Very best regards,

Michael Desson

www.Tikambilanie.org

Flower power for the 21st century [PDF, 215 KB]

2010-07-22T10:01:00.010+01:00

Fruits and seeds are our most important food source, vital for feeding the world's population, and yet they are made for plants' own use, not ours.

Come and talk to international leading plant scientists, including BBC Bang Goes The Theory's Dr Yan Wong, at this interactive exhibit and explore the fascinating world of pollen, seeds and plant reproduction.

This public event is part of the 21st International Congress on Sexual Plant Reproduction.

Date Thursday 5 August, 5.30 pm
Venue Victoria Rooms, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1SA
Admission Free
Contact Simon Hiscock, School of Biological Sciences, tel: +44 (0)117 954 6835, web: bristol.ac.uk/biology

Engagers' Digest - 14/07/10

2010-07-12T14:42:00.052+01:00

Dear Colleagues

Remember to sign up to Engage 2010, the one-day conference on public engagement taking place on 23 September. To register, download the registration form or contact Diane Thorne; tel: 0117 331 8318, email: diane.thorne@bristol.ac.uk to request a copy.

In this issue...

Researchers in Residence scheme
[opportunity]

Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement
[deadline: 10 September 2010]

The Engaging Researcher:Inspiring people to engage with your research
[booklet]

Online discussion space on public engagement, Vitae
[forum]

Dissemination workshop: Students, volunteering and the community
[8 September 2010]

NEW! Centre for Public Engagement website
[resource]

1. Researchers in Residence scheme [opportunity]

As a PhD student or post doc funded by one of the Research Councils or the Wellcome Trust, you can take part in the Researchers in Residence scheme. This fully funded scheme pairs you with a secondary school, giving you the experience of working with teachers and pupils, while sharing your skills with the school. Taking part in the scheme means spending time in the school, so you can see what it is like to teach, as well as building your confidence and enhancing your CV.

There are schools in and around Bristol that are looking for researchers in fine arts, psychology, biology, chemistry, general science and physics. For further information, visit the Researchers in Residence website, or contact Maggie Leggett at the Centre for Public Engagement; tel: (0117) 3318325, internal 18325, email: maggie.leggett@bristol.ac.uk

Back to contents

2. Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement [deadline: 10 September 2010]
Nominations for the 2010 Joshua Phillips Award for Innovation in Science Engagement are now open. The Josh Award is an annual award that recognises excellence, innovation and new talent in science engagement. The winner will be announced and presented with the award at the 2010 Manchester Science Festival this October, where they will be appointed the Festival's Communicator in Residence.

For further information and to download the nomination form , see the Manchester Science Festival website

Back to contents

3.The Engaging Researcher: Inspiring people to engage with your research [booklet]
Aimed at early career researchers, this booklet provides practical tips on how public engagement can benefit you, your research and the public with whom you engage. Drawing on real life examples, it is full of ideas about how to engage different audiences in a variety of ways including workshops, festivals and working in schools, among others.

Download the booklet (PDF, 1.7 MB).

Back to contents

4. Online discussion space on public engagement, Vitae [Forum]
This online discussion forum offers a space to discuss the impact of public engagement on you, your work and the members of the public you engage with. To stimulate conversations, Vitae has commissioned a number of articles specifically for this space, drawing from a range of perspectives. All are welcome to engage in the discussion and new articles will be posted on July 14, 16 and 19.

Visit the forum. Further information is available from Rebecca Owens.

Back to contents

5. Dissemination workshop: Students, volunteering and the community [8 September]
The NCCPE is holding a workshop to present the findings of this vinspired project which has explored all aspects of volunteering among students. There will be a chance to provide feedback on the final project report and research bulletins, as well as a discussion about how best to share future project outcomes.

The workshop will take place in Room 1, NCVO Building, Regent's Wharf, Kings Cross, London. To attend this event, please contact Jennifer Russell at the Institute for Volunteering Research by Friday 30 July. Further information is available on the NCCPE website.

Back to contents

6. NEW! Centre for Public Engagement website [resource]
The Centre for Public Engagement finally has its new website! Visit bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement to find out about public engagement at the University of Bristol, forthcoming opportunities, latest events and also a space to feedback and tell us what you think...and please do. There's also further information about Engage 2010. Happy surfing!

Back to contents

That's all for this issue of the Digest. Don't forget to send in your registration forms for Engage 2010. We look forward to seeing you there and hope that you're enjoying the summer.

Best wishes
Laura

Visit bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement

Read the latest public engagement stories at bristol.ac.uk/publicengagementstories

Engagers' Digest - 30/6/10

2010-06-30T09:32:00.030+01:00

Dear Colleagues

First, a reminder to sign up to Engage 2010 - the one-day public engagement conference taking place on 23 September. Last week we said that the registration form would be available on our new website - but the site's still in the final throes of development. So in the meantime, you can download the form from: www.bristol.ac.uk/cms/cpe/engage2010-registration.doc, or contact Diane Thorne, tel: 0117 331 8318, email: diane.thorne@bristol.ac.uk, to request a copy by email.

In this issue...

Web Testing for the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, 15 July

NUS Workshop on Student Volunteering, 28 July

Science Communication Masterclass, 11 to 14 October

Update - University of Bristol at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, 25 June to 4 July

1. Web Testing for the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, 15 July
Do you have an hour to spare? The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement is looking for people to test its new website. Volunteers will need to be free for one hour on 15 July and there is a small cash incentive for taking part. If interested, please contact Maggie Leggett, tel: 0117 331 8325, email: maggie.leggett@bristol.ac.uk

Back to contents

2. NUS Workshop on Student Volunteering, 28 July

The NCCPE is running a workshop with the NUS, for Student Union officers and staff with an interest in volunteering, student development, student activities, citizenship and community engagement.It will provide an opportunity for Student Unions to think strategically about the development of their volunteering projects and community engagement work, share experiences, contribute to the development of the 'manifesto' for student volunteering, and explore how this might be used as a tool for Unions to sustain their own volunteering programmes. The workshop will help inform the work of the vinspired students project.

To take part, please register your interest here.
http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/nccpe-and-nus-workshop

Back to contents

3. Science Communication Masterclass, 11 to 14 October
UWE's Science Communication Unit is running a Masterclass in Science Communication, in Bristol, 11 to 14 October. This is an intensive course created to provide professional development in science communication. Costs are £650 per delegate with a £500 concessionary rate for students, unemployed and low earners.

Register online.

For further information, email: science.communication@uwe.ac.uk

Back to contents

4. Update: University of Bristol at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition
It's also time for science in the city with the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition . This year's exhibition is taking place at London's Southbank Centre, 25 June to 4 July, and celebrates 350 years of the Royal Society. Bristol academics are involved in a number of co-managed exhibits. To find out more, check out the following links.

Fast and furious: witnessing the birth of Africa's new ocean
Looking deep into model volcanoes
The science of shape-shifting structures

Back to contents

Hope you're all having a great summer!Don't forget to register for Engage.

Best wishes,
Laura

Engagers' Digest - 23/6/10

2010-06-22T16:44:00.008+01:00

Dear colleagues,

Engage 2010 - Registration is open!

Engage 2010, on 23 September in the Victoria Rooms, is the annual conference for the University's public engagement community. This year, hear city leaders’ visions of an engaged university, meet and exchange ideas with colleagues and potential partners, and take part in innovative and interesting training and workshop sessions. Finish the day with a drinks reception and screening of the ‘Mathematical Ethnographies’ films in Royal Fort House, from 5pm.

The registration form will be available on from www.bristol.ac.uk/engage2010 within the next week. For any enquiries please contact my colleague Diane Thorne by email (diane.thorne@bristol.ac.uk) or on 0117 331 8318.

Upcoming events/deadlines:

1. Let's Get Liminal! Artistic Science and Scientific Art - 30 June 2-6pm

What happens in that space where science meets art and art meets science? Come to this half-day seminar in the Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information to have a look at what's going on and what will be happening, both at the University and outside. Including special guests Oron Catts, director of SymbioticA, Australia's artistic laboratory dedicated to the research, learning, critique and hands-on engagement with the life sciences, and UK-based artist Kira O'Reilly, a former SymbioticA artist-in-residence. More information: http://www.bris.ac.uk/science/blog

2. Conference - Exploring the What, Why and How of Public Engagement - 6 July

This conference, organised by the Beacon for Wales in collaboration with Vitae, is an introduction to public engagement with presentations from funders, academics and those involved in engagement projects. Come along and find out more about public engagement, what the benefits could be for you and your research and how you might get started.10.30 am – 4.15 pm, Tuesday 6 July, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. More information and registration here

3. AHRC Collaborative Research Training Scheme - 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

4. Wellcome Trust funding - deadline 30 July 2010

The Wellcome Engaging Science grants programme offers over £3 million per year to support projects that aim to inform and inspire the public about biomedical science and its social contexts. Society Awards are focusing on GREY MATTERS: Brain, Mind & Culture - deadline 12 October 2010. Other awards are also open for applications - more information here

5. The Woodward Charitable Trust - deadline 30 November

The fund offers grants of up to £5,000 through their small grants scheme and grants of over £5,000 through their large grants scheme, for projects in areas including arts outreach and environment. More information here

Other items:

For your interest, the English Subject Centre has launched its community engagement webpages, that capture some of the interesting ways English and Creative Writing can link to communities outside HEIs.

http://www.english.heacademy.ac.uk/explore/resources/community/index.php

Just to let you know, I'm going to be out of the office for the next few weeks, but my colleagues Laura Greenwood and Dane Comerford will be writing the Digest in my absence. I'll be back in the office on 20 July, and look forward to seeing all your registrations for the conference!

Best wishes,

Philippa

Twilight talk film: The future of personal computers

2010-06-14T13:17:00.005+01:00

Did you miss our Twilight Talk on The future of personal computers? (PDF, 124 KB) with Dr Mike Fraser from the Department of Computer Studies (3 June 2010)? Well, not to worry - thanks to the lovely people at the Watershed, we have a copy to share. Watch the film below to catch up on the discussions.

© Watershed 2010, IPR Policy

Free talk - the cutting edge of nanoscience research

2010-06-14T12:29:00.003+01:00

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

Engagers' Digest - 3/6/10

2010-06-03T11:14:00.015+01:00

Dear colleagues,

Welcome to a sunny edition of the Digest:

Again, a reminder for your diaries - Thursday 23 September 2010, Victoria Rooms. The programme for our annual Engage conference is shaping up and registration will open before the end of June. Engage 2010 will be a one day conference to share experiences and learn about the range of public engagement activity at the University of Bristol. Hear city leaders’ visions of an engaged university, meet and exchange ideas with colleagues and potential partners, and take part in innovative and interesting training and workshop sessions. Finish the day with a drinks reception and screening of the 'Mathematical Ethnographies'.

1. Universities UK - Universities Week: What's the big idea? 14-20 June
UUK's inaugural campaign will highlight the essential role of the UK’s universities and their impact on the economy, culture, society, the environment and much more. Find out how to support and contribute here http://www.universitiesweek.org.uk/Home.aspx

2. Conference - Exploring the What, Why and How of Public Engagement - 6 July
This conference, organised by the Beacon for Wales in collaboration with Vitae, is an introduction to public engagement with presentations from funders, academics and those involved in engagement projects. Come along and find out more about public engagement, what the benefits could be for you and your research and how you might get started.
10.30 am – 4.15 pm, Tuesday 6 July, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay
More information and registration here

3. Vitae - various opportunities for researchers
The researcher development organisation Vitae has a call for evidence of the impact of researcher development (deadline 18 June). They have also opened their Innovate call for innovative training programmes with a deadline of 30 June, and are holding a research staff conference on 4 November 2010.

4. HP Catalyst Initiative Funding
HP is creating a global network of education consortia that will explore new and more effective approaches for preparing students to use their technical, creative, and collaborative ingenuity to address significant social challenges in their community and around the world. Organisations can apply to become consortium members, and receive up to $30k over two years with a number of other benefits. More information here

5. Wellcome Trust funding - deadline 30 July 2010
The Wellcome Engaging Science grants programme offers over £3 million per year to support projects that aim to inform and inspire the public about biomedical science and its social contexts. Society Awards are focusing on GREY MATTERS: Brain, Mind & Culture - deadline 12 October 2010. Other awards are also open for applications - more information here

And don't forget - 12-13 June is the excellent Festival of Nature, where University of Bristol staff and students will be sharing their work under the themes of "Biodiversity is life" and "Technologies for the future". In the run up to the Festival, UoB academics will be speaking at four, free consecutive Science Cafes - more information here

Last but not least, check the NCCPE website for their latest events, including an Open Space event, consultations, and a national conference - http://www.publicengagement.ac.uk/news-and-events

Best wishes,

Philippa

Twilight talk - the future of personal computers

2010-06-03T10:29:00.002+01:00

Tonight at the Watershed, 6 pm, Twilight Talk on the future of personal computers.
Bookings through Margery Lever, tel: +44 (0) 117 331 8313.

Science Cafe bonanza

2010-06-02T18:04:00.002+01:00

A veritable rash of science cafes next week, Monday 7 - Thursday 10 June, featuring University of Bristol academics. All part of the exciting run up to the excellent Festival of Nature on 12-13 June.

All are free, starting at the usual time of 8pm. No booking is needed.

Monday 7 June at the Tobacco Factory, Raleigh Road, Southville, BS3 1T

How will humans change when the climate does?

Scientists seek to understand nature; philosophers and economists explain human culture. Our combined knowledge has vastly increased, but has control of our world advanced?
This discussion will explore connections between the 'producers' and the 'users' of environmental change research to inform real-world environmental decision-making on many scales.

The speaker is Sarah Cornell
For more information email: dane.comerford@bristol.ac.uk

Tuesday 8 June at At-Bristol, Anchor Road, BS1 5DB

Geoengineering the climate: A brave new world?

Even very substantial cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are unlikely to prevent 'dangerous' climate change, so what other choices are available? This event will discuss alternative engineering options for cooling the planet and explore the risks of not tackling ocean acidification.
Speaker: Andy Ridgwell and Daniela Schmidt
For more information, email: john.polatch@at-bristol.org.uk, or tel: 0117 915 7120

Wednesday 9 June at the Bristol County Sports Club, 40 Colston Street, BS1 5AE

The rise of the Peregrine: A recovering population

As the peregrine falcon spreads into our towns and cities, how will the species fare in the future? This event will consider the consequences of reintroducing birds in other European countries to bolster their populations. The persecution of birds of prey is on the rise. How can we manage their survival?

Speaker is Ed Drewitt - http://eddrewitt.co.uk
For more information email: bristolsciencecafe@googlemail.com Bristol County Sports Club, 40 Colston Street.

Thursday 10 June at the Watershed, 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, BS1 5TX

A sea of energy

Energy is everywhere: it escapes from buildings; it changes form; it can be captured. But how do we do it? Join in discussions of how small devices can be powered from captured energy and how renewable energy could revolutionise our lives without some of us even noticing.

Speakers: Stephen Burrow, Jeremey King and David Drury
For more information email: dane.comerford@bristol.ac.uk