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
