Key Elements of Successful PER Integration

PER within a grant proposal should be: 

• About the research proposed in the grant 

• Delivered in part by the researchers involved in the grant 

• Completed within the life of the grant 

Funders want to see: 

• Clear goals: What societal benefit are you aiming for through engagement? 

• Specific audiences: who will you engage with? 

• Relevant activities: How will these activities contribute to the research? This can include generating benefits for wider society, including avoiding harms. Have you asked for adequate funds to enable the proposed activities? Do you have the capacity and skills in the team to deliver these or have you included costs to engage the relevant experts?

• Evaluation plans: How will you measure success? 

Generic STEM outreach, while valuable, may not meet funders’ requirements if it is unrelated to the research. Really consider what difference engaging young people could have, and whether that's the most relevant group to engage to enhance the quality and impact of your research.