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April 2019With one fabulously warm Spring Bank Holiday down and one more to go (hopefully withthe same weather), it's take to think all things summery. Yes, holidays, sunshineand....research/science festivals! So sunnies and thinking caps on for Being Human, theFestival of Social Science, UoBs own Research at the Heart of Brum and any more!

Spring Celebrations! 

Well, what a month it has been! Our biggest ever annual PER Day took place on 5th April,attracting almost 150 attendees, a whopping 66% increase on 2018! We were thrilled tosee so many people networking, honing their skills and developing project ideas. In fact, ahuge 98% reported that the experience was valuable, so we can't wait to see thatinspiration and enthusiasm translate into brilliant PER projects! We'll soon be sitting downto think about how we make 2020 even bigger, better and more useful, but first, let's take

a minute to congratulate our amazing award winners who were presented with theirprizes just before the all important networking reception by UoB's own Professor of PublicEngagement with Science, Alice Roberts...

The Alice Roberts PGR Award for Excellence Public Engagement, presented annually tothe highest scoring student on our Public Engagement Advanced Research Skills Module(PGCARMs) was this year awarded to Sophie Louth, a PhD student in ChemicalEngineering. Sophie developed a brilliant project called "Hands Up!", which gave youngpeople the chance to build and test their own model limb prosthetics. For 2019 we alsointroduced a new award, the Light of Understanding, to reward any researcher or groupnot only demonstrating excellence in PER, but also endeavouring to pass on their skillsand experience to others. The inaugural Light of Understanding was awarded to the AreYou A Good Eye Witness project, led by Prof Heather Flowe, Dr Melissa Colloff andDanielle Hett (along with dozens of Applied Memory Lab students) who will receive £2,000to further their good practice. The judges and PER Team were so impressed with therange of and quality of nominations for the Light of Understanding, that the judgesalso awarded Biosciences student Liam Crowley a Special Commendation and funding of£250 for his brilliant insect podcast, Entocast.Well done everyone for your amazing efforts! 

And the good news doesn't stop there! Following on from the success ENCOMPASS, apioneering public engagement with environmental research project, led by Dr CarlStevenson, we are thrilled to announce a massive award of £1.3 million to furthersupport this work. The ENCOMPASS project was funded by the Natural EnvironmentResearch Council (NERC) in Phase 1 of their 'Engaging Environments' scheme, now forPhase 2, this new award brings together ENCOMPASS with the University of Reading'sproject, Opening Up Science for All!, and a wide range of partners and collaborators in thelargest ever NERC-funded engagement project. Huge congratulations to all involved!

Breakfast Brainstorm

Our next monthly drop-insession will be 29th May, 9-11am. Open to all who want tolearn more or get advice andsupport on publicengagement. Find us inMuirhead Tower Starbucks,upper level seating. 

Royal Soc Bio Grants

The Royal Society of BiologyOutreach and Engagementgrant scheme offers funding<£500 to members anywherein the World to help run anevents or activities duringBiology Week, 5th – 13thOctober 2019. Deadline 29th

April. 

Brainstorm Info

Creative Engagement 

The third in PER Team’s newseries of workshops will be onImmersive Experiences and

Performance. Hear from anddiscuss with a range ofresearchers how they haveused different interactivemethods to engage the public.23rd May, 11am-2:30pm. 

City Nature Challenge

Is an epic citizen sciencecontest to see who can findthe most wildlife over 4 dayscoming to 7 UK cities (nearestLeicester) 26th – 29th April. 

Sign Up Now

Find Out More

Arts & Science Festival

Is currently inviting Universitystaff and students to submitevents to take place across2019/20 coinciding with thefour Green Heart themes ofCelebration (Jun-Sept),Change (Sept-Dec),Illumination (Dec-Mar) andHope (Mar-Jun). Sendapplications or queries here.

Host a Hackathon

The Cross-KIC DigitalEducation Hackathon issearching for hostorganisations for their nextevent on 3rd October 2019.Hackathons see teams come

Find Out More

Interact Proposals

The STFC outreach andengagement symposium,Interact, a FREE one-day event,taking place at UCLAN on 4thSeptember is seekingproposals for workshops andexhibitions until 30th April.  

Royal Soc Volunteering

The Royal Society is lookingfor reliable and motivatedvolunteers for the 2019Summer Science Exhibition,1st– 7th July 2019 in London. Theevent programme includesinteractive shows, talks andactivities for all ages. Deadline3rd May. 

Social Sciences Fest

The Economic and SocialResearch Council (ESRC) arenow seeking proposals forevents to form part of their2019 Festival of SocialSciences running 2nd-9thNovember. Please apply directto the UoB ESRC IAA ProjectTeam, deadline 10th May.

More Info & Apply

Register and Apply

Details and Apply

Find Out More

Sprint Forward

Calling 2nd year undergrads!Enhance your employability,creativity and problem-solvingskills by helping developcreative solutions in responseto challenges highlighted inthe Brum Youth Trends report.Application deadline 7th May. 

BIG Event Bursaries

The British Interactive Group(BIG) is offering early careerbursary places for their BIGEvent conference, inEdinburgh in July. You must bea member (no minimum time)and have not attended aprevious BIG Event. Deadline15th May.  

SciComm Certificate

University of CambridgeInstitute of ContinuingEducation one-year PracticalScience Communicationcourse is open for applicants.The part-time course isdesigned in blocks convenientfor working people. UK fee is£4,000. Deadline 17th May.

More Info and Apply

Details and Apply

Info and Apply

together to solve a challengein 24h with prizes for the bestsolutions. Email to registerinterest by 30th April.

Tactile Astronomy

The Tactile Universe (TU)opens up astronomy tovisually impaired peoplethrough tactile teachingresources. A FREE TU trainingsession will be held inPortsmouth on 8th May forthose who would like to workwith the VI community. 

BA / Wolfson Fellowship

Early career researchers inHumanities and/or SocialSciences are invited to applyfor <£130,000 for 3 years topursue research and publicengagement.                   Deadline 15th May.

Standing Up For Science

Sense About Science will behosting their next FREE, full-day Standing Up For Scienceworkshop aimed at ECRs inWarwick on 14th June. Findout how to make your voiceheard in debate and learnfrom journalists and scientistswho have engaged with themedia. Deadline 17th May.

Find Out More

Register Here

Info and Apply

Science Me a Story

The Society of SpanishResearchers in the UK(SRUK/CERU) would like toinvite participants for theircontest of writing scientificstories for children. Winnersreceive cash prizes andpublication in the UK andSpain. Deadline 16th May.

Institute of Physics Grants

Provide <£3,000 for physics-based events and activities inthe UK and Ireland. Projectsshould start after August 2019and last less than 12 months.FAQs here, deadline 27th May.

STFC PER Forum

The STFC Public EngagementEarly-Career ResearcherForum (the ‘PEER Forum’) willsupport talented scientists andengineers to develop their PEgoals. Deadline 3rd June.

PechaKucha Speakers

Details and Enter

More Info and Apply

Apply Now

Fundraising Training

The Botanic Gardens EducationNetwork is running training inLondon on 21st May withspeakers from The NationalLottery Heritage Fund, LondonWildlife Trust and RHS Wisleyon how to turn project ideasinto a reality. Tickets £70 formembers or £98. 

Alzheimer's Inspire Fund

Alzheimer’s Research UK havelaunched a new publicengagement grant scheme,Inspire Fund, with <£30,000available to support eventsand activities. They encouragecreative applications thatinform, build awareness andchallenge misconceptionsaround dementia and theresearch being carried out.Deadline 31st May,

School/Uni Partnerships

Join Ellie Cripps (University ofBristol) and Kirsty Ross(University of Strathclyde) for aone day course (fee £75) toexplore the pitfalls andpossibilities of developingschool-university partnershipson 5th June in Bristol. 

RSB Outreach Awards

Details and Book

Details & Apply Here

Details and Register

Malvern Geofest 

Geofest encompasseshundreds of events linked togeology, heritage andbiodiversity and runs at publicvenues across the WestMidlands from 25th May to

1st September. Email CarlStevenson ASAP if you arewould like to get involved /run an event. 

Being Human: Open Call

Now accepting applications foractivities that makehumanities researchaccessible, engaging and funfor people across the UK.Please note this second call isonly for activities that DO NOTrequire funding. Deadline 3rd

June. 

Wellcome Hub Award

This is a great opportunity towork as part of a collaborativeresidency based at theWellcome Collection.Applications <£1 million over1-2 years are invited fromgroups who want to look at ahealth-related question in an

Apply Here

More Info

Info and Apply

PechaKucha Nights areinformal and fun gatheringswhere speakers give unusualtalks; speaking along to 20images, each shown for only20 seconds. The Hippodromewill be holding an arts andscience themed night on 14th

June 6-7pm and is currentlylooking for speakers. 

Science Film Festival

The Bristol Short Science FilmCompetition is now open forentries. Winners get cashprizes and attend the Festivalin August. 'How to win' guidehere, deadline 30th June.  

PharmaSoc Bursaries

The British PharmacologicalSociety offers membersfunding for engagementactivities – <£250 available

year round or <£1,500

available bi-annually. Nextdeadline in July.

NC3Rs Grants

Register Interest

T&C and Apply

Find Out More

Reward researchers whoinform, enthuse and engagethe public. There arecategories for NewResearchers (Prize £750, opento masters, PhD and 1st yearpostdoc) and EstablishedResearchers (Prize £1,500,open to those beyond earlycareer). Self-nominationswelcome. Deadline 28th June. 

Blast Fest

Connecting local communitieswith STEM through black artsand culture. The 2019Birmingham programme willtake place at Simmer Down

Festival in Handsworth Park

on 12th August. Limitedfunding available (<£250).

Reaction Awards

Grants up <£5,000 availableto any researcher for publicengagement activitiesprovided the applicationincludes research in an STFC-funded area of science ortechnology. Applications open

year round.

Details and Apply

Details and Apply

innovative and experimentalway. Preliminary applicationdeadline 13th June. 

Innovate Malvern

Malvern Science in the Park(29th June) and Festival ofInnovation (7th-12th October)are two family festivals inMalvern seeking scientists andresearchers to get involvedwith delivering activities,demos and science busking. 

ESRC Impact Account

The ESRC Impact AccelerationAccount (IAA) is a flexible anddynamic fund to supportknowledge exchange andimpact to engage non-academic users in generatingpositive change. Severaldifferent levels of grant areavailable, <£20,000. Firstdeadline Autumn 2019.

Genetics Society Grants

Grants of up to £500 areavailable to members of the

Criteria / Apply

More Info / Apply

Info and Guidance

Up to £1,500 to supportNC3Rs-funded researchers(past and present) to engagethe public with approaches toreplace, reduce and refineanimal use in science.Deadline: quarterly.

Apply Now

Apply Now Genetics Society to cover costsassociated with travel andmaterials for PER activitiesrelevant to genetics. Open

year round.

Apply Now

UoB PER Fund

Don't forget!! PER Team has a small pot of funding available tohelp researchers to get great PER ideas off the ground. Up to £250can be applied for year round with quarterly calls for <£2,000; nextdeadline 30th May. Find out more and apply HERE.

PER Fund Success 

Well done to Jess Williams and Rebecca Bird who have both been

successful in securing small PER Fund grants! Jess will be using the funds to set up a participatory steering group

to help shape her research and engagement on mental health inthe LGBTQ+ community, whilst Rebecca is using her award to run

an interactive community event on plastics, energy and theenvironment.

Well done and best of luck to both of you!

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