RCUK is committed to supporting and rewarding researchers to engage with the public, and achieve a culture change so that public engagement is embedded alongside research and valued as an important activity.
Embedding Public Engagement
RCUK Initiatives:
Funding:
Beacons for Public Engagement: Beacons for Public Engagement are university-based collaborative centres to help support, recognise, reward and build capacity for public engagement work across the UK. Together with our partners, the UK funding councils and the Wellcome Trust, we are investing £9.2 million into this initiative in order to support a step-change in recognition for public engagement across the higher education sector. There are six Beacons around the UK, and one National Co-ordinating Centre.
National Science & Engineering Week Awards: Awards of up to £2000 are available for you to run activities during National Science & Engineering Week. Public debates, talks, exhibits, hands-on demonstrations, laboratory visits and activities to inspire the next generation of scientists are all examples of suitable activities. This competitive award scheme is open to Research Council funded grant holders and postgraduate students affiliated to any one of the seven UK Research Councils, and those working in all Research Council supported Institutes or Centres.
Training:
Researchers in Residence: Researchers in Residence facilitates a mutually beneficial relationship between researchers and secondary schools across the UK. This scheme offers early stage researchers the opportunity to use their expertise as a researcher and develop their communication skills by going into a school or college and helping create quality experiences for the pupils. All RinRs are trained in how to communicate their research to non-specialists and supported throughout the process.
Teacher CPD - Bringing Cutting Edge Science into the Classroom: RCUK’s Teacher CPD programme is designed to help secondary school teachers deliver some of the more challenging aspects of the curriculum in a way that captures and retains the interest of their pupils. It is also designed to support teachers’ development of specialist knowledge and to facilitate links between teachers and contemporary research.
Publications
What's in it for me? The benefits of public engagement for researchers: includes a selection of some of the highlights and first hand experiences of a range of researchers across the UK of the positive benefits arising from engaging with the public.
Individual Research Council Initiatives:
Funding:
BBSRC Small Awards: A grant scheme to support public engagement activities for up to £5000. Applicants must either be BBSRC grant holders and postgraduate students, working in a BBSRC funded institute, or a BBSRC local school co-ordinator.
Partnerships for Public Engagement: Grants to support high quality public engagement projects by EPSRC researchers.
STFC Small Awards: This provides funds for small, local or "pilot" projects promoting science in the STFC funded areas. Awards range from £500 to £15,000.
STFC Large Awards: Grants of up to £100,000 for Public Engagement projects which have strong links with STFC's scientific research community.
Training:
Meet the Scientist: An EPSRC scheme developing scientists' skills and confidence in engaging the general public in dialogue, and providing opportunities for groups of the general public to find out about the issues raised by EPSRC-supported research.
Media Training Course: This course takes scientists with a basic knowledge of the media and develops their communication skills. It deals with radio, TV, and written journalism, and is held four times a year. The course is run by The Royal Society, and is open to all, although researchers from STFC and EPSRC may be able to apply for bursaries to attend.
Communication Skills Training: This course for scientists aims to offer them the skills to communicate their science on a non- technical level to different audiences. It is run by the Royal Society and takes place four times a year. Open to all, although researchers from STFC and EPSRC may be able to apply for bursaries to attend.
For more ways in which to link with schools please visit our Schools & Young People section.
Please visit our Public Engagement Guides and Advice section for more support with evaluation and engaging with the public.