Engagers’ Digest 2/10/2014

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement
1. Schools public engagement training tier 1 (introductory training session) – 20 October, University of Bristol
2. Call for academic mentors for year 13 school students – no deadline

Funding and awards
3. Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Fund up to £50,000 – deadline 31 October
4. Opportunities to apply for Bristol 2015 funding – various deadlines  

Events and training
5. Wildscreen Fringe Festival – 18 – 30 October
6. Communicate 2014: Changing stories – 4 & 5 November, At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol

News and opportunities
7. Public Attitudes to Science 2014: Toolkit
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University of Bristol engagement

1. Schools public engagement training tier 1 (introductory training session) – 20 October, University of Bristol
This schools engagement training session will be led by our colleagues at Graphic Science (www.graphicscience.co.uk). It will take place over half a day and is designed for up to 20 researchers from across the University of Bristol who want to develop their public engagement repertoire. This training is directly linked to the opportunity to take on the challenge of communicating research to non-specialist audiences, provided by the RCUK School-University Partnership Initiative (SUPI). 

The session aims to cover: developing your presentation skills; practical considerations of working with schools; consider methods for engagement; introduce opportunities and support within the University and allow you to meet other researchers and share best practice.

For more information and to book, please contact Chloe Anderson at the Centre for Public Engagement via email: chloe.anderson@bristol.ac.uk or tel: 0117 9288996.

2. Call for academic mentors for year 13 school students – no deadline
We are looking for volunteer research staff to act as mentors to year 13 school students taking the Extended Project qualification (http://www.aqa.org.uk/programmes/aqa-baccalaureate/extended-project/the-aqa-epq). The EPQ is an independent research project which engages school students with the process and practice of research and helps to bridge the gap between school and university. We are holding an EPQ fair on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 November at the University, where school students will be matched to an appropriate mentor for support and guidance. Volunteers will be invited to a training session beforehand. This opportunity would suit PhD students and research staff and is offered through the RCUK-funded School-University Partnership Initiative (SUPI): www.bristol.ac.uk/public-engagement/projects/engaging-with-schools/. 

For more information, please contact Chloe Anderson at the Centre for Public Engagement via email: chloe.anderson@bristol.ac.uk or telephone: 0117 9288996.

Funding and awards

3. Royal Society of Chemistry Outreach Fund up to £50,000 – deadline 31 October
Through this fund, the Royal Society of Chemistry aim to support the development of projects that raise awareness of chemistry in people’s everyday lives, and/ or develop the science communication skills of those who are already highly trained in chemistry. Members or anyone else organising such activities are invited to apply for financial support. There are three categories of support available: small grants up to £2,000; medium grants between £2,000 and £10,000 and large grants of between £10,000 - £50,000. The deadline to apply is the 31 October. To find out more and to apply please visit: rsc.li/outreach-fund. 

4. Opportunities to apply for Bristol 2015 funding – various deadlines
Bristol 2015 Ltd, the organisation set up to facilitate Bristol’s year as European GreenCapital, has a call for three strands of funding: Strategic Grants; Small Grants; Neighbourhood Partnerships. The Strategic Grants Fund will provide grants of between £25,000 and £50,000 and has ‘an intention to bid’ deadline of 10 October. If you are interested in making an application please contact fiona.hyland@bristol.ac.uk at the Centre for Public Engagement. http://www.bristol2015.co.uk/get-involved/apply-grant-funding/

Events and training

5. Wildscreen Fringe Festival – 18 – 30 October, various venues
The Wildscreen Film Festival is back in Bristol, and this year you can see over 60 amazing wildlife films from around the world. There is also the opportunity to hear from some of the biggest directors and producers from the wildlife TV and film industry as well as a spectacular comedy night at the Colston Hall: ‘Stand Up for Ugly Animals!’. To find out more about the programme please visit: http://fringe.wildscreenfestival.org/programme/programme.html 

6. Communicate 2014: Changing stories – 4 & 5 November, At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol
We are living through a time of immense and accelerated change: environmental, technological and social. Are our well-rehearsed environmental messages and our tried and trusted communications tools still relevant in today’s rapidly evolving world? Communicate 2014: Changing Stories will address this question. Join for two days of inspirational sessions, thought-provoking discussions, practical workshops and outstanding networking opportunities at the UK’s leading conference for environmental communicators. Develop your skills, share best practice and debate the latest challenges with over 150 delegates from NGOs, public sector, media, academia and beyond. For more information and to book please visit: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/communicate/ 

News and opportunities

7. Public Attitudes to Science 2014: Toolkit
As part of a wider Public Attitudes to Science survey, a ‘Day of Discovery’ was run on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, during which over 100 members of the public were engaged in a conversation about science and science engagement, using the results of the 2014 survey as stimulus. These materials have now been revised and made available as a toolkit to enable others to run similar events. For more information on the toolkit please visit: http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/3441/Public-Attitudes-to-Science-2014-Toolkit.aspx

Engagers’ Digest 16/09/2014

In this edition:

University of Bristol engagement
1. Volunteers urgently required for Bristol Bright Night – deadline 19 September 2
2. Schools public engagement training tier 1 (introductory training session) – 20 October, University of Bristol
3. Call for academic mentors for year 13 school students – no deadline
4. University of Bristol Engage conference, 18 September: now full – follow online 

Funding and awards
5. Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition call for proposals – deadline 22 September
6. Royal Academy of Engineering’s grant scheme, £3,000 to £30,000 – deadline 22 September
7. Space for All: funding for space education and engagement projects up to £5,000 – deadline 20 October 
8. Wellcome Trust Arts Awards up to £30,000 – deadline 28 November

Events and training
9. People & Research West of England (PRWE) ‘Building research partnerships’ workshop – 13 October, UWE Exhibition & Conference Centre, Bristol
10. Communicate 2014: Changing stories – 4 & 5 November, At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol

News and opportunities
11. Fun Palaces: seeking science engagers to participate – 4 & 5 October
12. Find out what your brain looks like when you listen to songs: participate in the 5Hz project – 7 October
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