Engagers' Digest 23/5/13

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement
1. Volunteering at Bristol Festival of Nature: 15-16 June
2. Paid evaluation work at Bristol Festival of Nature: 15-16 June
3. PolicyBristol: influencing policy through world-class research

Funding
4. The Classical Association grants: deadlines 1 June and 1 September
5. Connected Communities Funding call: deadline 16 July
6. Wellcome Trust Broadcast Development Awards: deadline 19 July
7. Wellcome Trust People Awards: deadline 26 July
8. The Biochemical Society Scientific Outreach grants: deadline 30 September

Events
9. Public Engagement event at University of Exeter: 18 June

Other news
10. Wanted: Magician in Residence: deadline 10 June
11. Getting involved with ’Bristopia’, At-Bristol: 21 June, 6.30pm
12. Volunteering opportunity for The Big Bang South West: 27 June, Exeter
13. Research Fortnight: How to become a policy savvy researcher

University of Bristol engagement

1. Volunteering at Bristol Festival of Nature: 15-16 June
We are looking for staff and students to help out at the Festival of Nature, the UK's largest free celebration of the natural world, which takes place on the 15 - 16 June. With hands-on exhibits and activities, the Bristol Festival of Nature gives wildlife enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to explore, enjoy and get close to the natural world in the heart of the city.
Volunteers can help out on a variety of University of Bristol exhibits on themes such as urine infections and microbes, collective complexity, and plant pathology. There's also the chance to volunteer for the Seeds of Change project tent where there will be a range of artistic activities related to the project. For further information please contact Miriea Bes, Centre for Public Engagement, on email: mireia.bes@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 3318315.
Web: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/festival.html.

2. Paid evaluation work at Bristol Festival of Nature: 15-16 June
We are looking for someone to manage and coordinate a team of evaluators during the Bristol Festival of Nature festival. You will be paid around £125 for the weekend (lunch and refreshments will be provided); previous experience in carrying out survey work is required.
We also have a few remaining places for people to carry out surveys of the festival-goers as part of the evaluation of the festival. Evaluators will be paid £2.50 per survey (which should be about £50 per day); lunch and refreshments will also be provided and you will have a chance to experience the Festival. Previous experience is not required as training will be provided. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in conducting surveys, especially for those who work with public participants as part of their research.
For further information please contact Kate Miller, Centre for Public Engagement, on email: kate.miller@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 3318321.
Web: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/festival.html.

3. PolicyBristol: influencing policy through world-class research
The PolicyBristol website has gone live http://www.bris.ac.uk/policybristol/.
PolicyBristol is a new initiative within the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law. It will be a key vehicle for strengthening our contribution to effective policy development and delivery. The project will be launched publicly later in the year. The team would welcome your engagement in the project, contributions to the blog and feedback on the website. Deborah Wilson, d.wilson@bristol.ac.uk, is Director and Georgina Brereton the Coordinator, georgina.brereton@bristol.ac.uk. Funding is available to support policy engagement activities.
https://www.bris.ac.uk/fssl/current-staff/research-information/policybristol/.


Funding

4. The Classical Association grants: deadlines 1 June and 1 September
The Classical Association awards grants with a total value in the region of £60,000 each year to classical projects. Outreach events are eligible if they tend towards the promotion of public awareness of the importance of classics and/or support classics in schools. Activities might include: public talks or small interactive sessions on the Classical world, reading and discussion groups, and theatrical performances.
For more information see web: http://www.classicalassociation.org/grants.html

5. Connected Communities Funding call: deadline 16 July
The Arts and Humanities Research Council, working in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund, wishes to invite applications for a small number of co-ordinating centres to support community engagement activities to connect academic and public histories of the First World War and its legacy. The centres will be expected to act as beacons for community outreach, engagement and collaboration between research organisations and researchers and community groups who are interested in researching and commemorating the First World War, the broader historical and cultural context of the War and its legacy and impact.
If you are interested in being involved or would like more information, contact Valerie Aspin/Jean Pretlove on email: rdm-arts@bristol.ac.uk at the earliest opportunity. Participation to this scheme will need to be approved by the Faculty.

6. Wellcome Trust Broadcast Development Awards: deadline 19 July
The Broadcast Development Awards support the development of broadcast proposals in any genre that engage the audience with issues around biomedical science in an innovative, entertaining and accessible way. The Trust are interested in funding individuals and organisations with brilliant early-stage ideas for TV, radio, new media or gaming projects. The funding, of up to £10,000 will enable these ideas to be developed into high-impact, well-researched proposals that can be used to secure a broadcast platform and/or further funding.
For more information see web: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/funding/public-engagement/funding-schemes/broadcast-development-awards/index.htm

7. Wellcome Trust People Awards: deadline 26 July
People Awards are for innovative and creative projects that encourage public debate and understanding of biomedical science. They can fund small-to-medium-sized one-off projects or projects that pilot new ideas with an aim to scale up or become sustainable following the grant, or they can part-fund larger projects (up to and including £30 000).
For more information see web: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Public-engagement/Funding-schemes/People-and-Society-Awards/index.htm

8. The Biochemical Society Scientific Outreach grants: deadline 30 September
Grants are available to support activities and events that help communicate the excitement of molecular bioscience to young people and the community. Applications are invited for sums up to £1000 to assist with the direct costs associated with an event and expenses incurred (e.g. transport and/or teacher cover).
For more information see web: http://www.biochemistry.org/Grants/EducationalGrants/ScientificOutreachGrants.aspx


Events and training

9. Public Engagement event at University of Exeter: 18 June
Many research funders are increasing their requirements for public engagement, but what does this really mean when it comes to writing a research proposal or delivering a project? Join in this event organised by the University of Exeter and have the opportunity to speak directly with the research councils and trusts.
For more information see web: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/events/details/index.php?event=1054


Other news

10. Wanted: Magician in Residence: deadline 10 June
Watershed and the University of Bristol are disrupting normal residency service and inviting a magician, artist, illusionist or designer to join them for a spell of exploration into creative ideas that blend technology, interaction design, magic and illusion.
Suggested skills: Disappearing interfaces, conjuring circuits, pulling robotic rabbits out of haptic hats.
Further information:
http://www.watershed.co.uk/get-involved/opportunities/2013-06-10/wanted-magician-in-residence/

11. Getting involved with ’Bristopia’, At-Bristol: 21 June, 6.30pm
'Bristopia' is a popular After Hours events where adults get to experience the At-Bristol science centre without the kids. The theme for ‘Bristopia’ is the science of sustainability, climate change and specifically Bristol’s future as a green city. At-Bristol would like to invite other organisations and individuals to participate in the evening to create a broad picture of Bristol as green city, to include the latest thinking and to give you the opportunity to engage with this important and influential audience.
To get involved as a speaker, expert, exhibitor or helper please contact:
Email: chris.dunford@at-bristol.org.uk
http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/1740.html

12. Volunteering opportunity for The Big Bang South West: 27 June, Exeter
The Big Bang is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths for young people in the UK. The Big Bang South West at the University of Exeter on 27th June needs volunteers to support the events team in a number of roles.
Further information from: http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/nearme/volunteer.cfm
email: volunteers@thebigbangfair.co.uk
 
13. Research Fortnight: How to become a policy savvy researcher
This resource lists the support available to researchers to help them gain a better understanding of policy making and how best to bring their work to the attention of those who should be using it.
http://www.researchprofessional.com/0/rr/news/uk/careers/2013/4/how-to-become-a-policy-savvy-researcher.html;jsessionid=51481BE4557227CF4BC4797ED2C29EE7

Engagers' Digest 14/2/12

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement

1. Volunteering at Discover: 8-10 March
2. Understanding animal research workshop: 21 February
3. Careers talk at City Academy
4. Your Green Future: 13-14 March  
5. Talk at Broadlands School: 6 July

 Funding

1. Community Challenge Fund: deadline 9 March
2. Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowships: deadline 30 March
3. Wellcome Trust Peoples Awards: deadline 27 April
4. Institute of Physics' Public Engagement Grant Scheme: deadline 30 April

Events

1. Introduction to the News Media: 22 March
2. Getting started: a beginner’s guide to evaluation
3. People Power... the Science of Engaging Audiences: 2 April
4. Evaluation masterclass – making a case
5. Workshop in Animatronics: 5-7 May

Engagers' Digest - 20/5/10

Dear all,

Welcome to another Digest. A few important dates and opportunities:

1. Bristol BioBlitz - May 21 and 22
Tomorrow is the first day of the Bristol BioBlitz, a 30-hour race against the clock to identify as many species as possible in the Blasie Castle Estate. Come along to join the hunt, or sign up for some of the nature walks including a 4:30am dawn chorus walk! More information here

2. Engage 2010 Marketplace
Thanks to those of you who responded positively to the opportunity to share your engagement work at Engage 2010 on 23 September. This is a great chance to show other groups tools and techniques for engagement you have developed, and the highlights (and low points!) of your experiences. If you are interested in having a table and display board at the meeting, between 12-2pm, please let me know by 30 May.

3. Researchers in Residence
Researchers in Residence (RinR) places enthusiastic early-stage career researchers (PhD and post doc researchers) in host secondary schools to inspire 11-19 year olds about their work.
Participation helps researchers to develop transferable skills and meets funders’ public engagement expectations. Placements are flexible and may comprise demonstrations, discussions, career talks or university visits. Training is provided and researchers funded directly or indirectly by one of the seven UK Research Councils or the Wellcome Trust are eligible to apply.
To apply or find out more call 0845 365 7470 or visit http://www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk/

4. RCUK publication seeks early career researcher profiles
Research Councils UK is calling for researchers who are active in public engagement to take part in a project about their work, in conjunction with the National Co-ordinating Centre and Vitae. More information and a short form to complete is at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/news/100513.htm

5. Arts and Humanities Research Council/NCCPE event - 16 June, London
Public interest in the arts and humanities has never been greater. But how can academics, researchers and professionals in the arts and humanities and the wider cultural sector grasp the opportunities presented by this enthusiasm? How can their work truly engage the public - for the benefit of themselves, their students, their organisations, and that of the public itself? This event (16 June, 10am-4pm, Glaziers Hall, London) will take this question as its starting point and examine both the strategic and the practical challenges facing those working in the arts and humanities. More information here; click here to register or contact Sophie Duncan at NCCPE.

6. Effective Evaluation for STEM E&E Providers - Thursday 2 September, Bristol
Evaluating activities appropriately is essential to providing schools and colleges with confidence that activities are worthwhile and matched to their students’ needs. Effective evaluation is also a crucial way to assure funders that their money is being well spent, and helps you as STEM providers ensure that your activities are operating as effectively and efficiently as possible. A free one-day workshop for STEM E&E providers - more information at http://www.big.uk.com/events/evaluation/

Impact and evaluation of public engagement

Some outcomes from the workshop on impacts and evaluation.

• There's a lot to learn from reviewing evaluations already done (meta-evaluations). Unfortunately, too often evaluations are done as a check-marking and this needs to be avoided. It's important to take up the lessons learned; RCUK is doing a bit of this by reviewing evaluations.
• Categorising types of impacts and benefits is a critical step in evaluating public engagement.
• There are then stories and matrices that can be developed based on the type of impact being explored.
• Experience shows that quantitative indicators can be hard to find, difficult (and expensive) to measure; qualitative indicators have value. One of the greatest challenges with them, though, is making qualitative evaluations systematic; how to make generalisations and themes emerge from storytelling and case studies etc.

Top tip: Be clear on why you're doing evaluation (while recognising that motivations may change over time)

• How to select measures which reinforce or triangulate other measures or data - need to be creative, but this is worth thinking through.
• Important drivers for impact evaluation are RCUK and other funding councils.
• Need to find ways to ensure it fits your own purposes too.
• Need to be creative in finding ways to record.
• An important starting point for making use of evaluations is a desire to improve your practice. Ultimately, evaluations (at least formative ones, not after activity is over) should inform your practice.
• Evaluations must be simple and not a difficult add-on; efficiencies should be a cornerstone. Participatory methodologies are worth exploring.
• Self-reflection is also a valid tool in evaluation; how did doing something change you and your thinking on an issue, a methodology, etc.? This might be as valuable as any impact evaluation directed to recipients of your activity. For example, if your practice or insight changes as a result of doing something.
• Seeing and quantifying impacts is extremely difficult/unlikely/not realistic with most short-term projects and research. Too much time needs to pass, too many attributing other factors.
• Choosing the right time to evaluate is also key; to get valid feedback (i.e. choosing to gather responses immediately following an event, vs a week or a month or more later).
• Making meaning of results can be challenging; support in understanding the process of drawing conclusions would be helpful.
• Despite usually messy and less than rigorous methods, evaluations that seek trends or generalities are still important. A basic sense of costs vs. benefits of doing something (vs. not doing it) can be really important.
• Evaluating inputs and processes can be really helpful, and more realistic sometimes than looking for long-term impact.
• There's lots of expertise in evaluation out there, just as there are in public engagement. Researchers can't be expected to become experts in this area and so need to have help to connect to appropriate resources and people. This doesn't have to be expensive ongoing evaluation support, just resources, possibly a workshop, etc.
• Language used in evaluations is important - can isolate others.