British Ecological Society Outreach Grants, deadline 8 March

This grant will support BES members to deliver independent outreach, public engagement and science communication activities that engage public audiences with the excitement, importance and relevance of ecological science or enhance the experience and skills of others to communicate ecology with public audiences.

The grant will support diverse formats that reach and engage public audiences in innovative, creative and impactful ways, whether through in-person events, digital formats, or physical resources.

All Grants must be for projects that meet at least one of the top-level BES aims:

• Communicate evidence-based messaging for what ecology is, how nature works, and the use of ecological science as a solution to local and global challenges.
• Raise awareness and public understanding of ecological careers, their relevance and importance, breadth, and diversity, and show that anybody can become an ecologist.
• Share how individuals can take action to benefit the environment, themselves, and society.
• Increase the ability of others to deliver the above aims through outreach and engagement activities.

There is usually a second round of funding in the summer.

The lead applicant must be a BES member. Awards are open to individuals, teams and organisations across all experience levels to organise ecological public engagement events. Collaborations between two or more people are also welcome.

Applications will NOT be considered for:

• Staff salaries (one-off costs that are relevant to completing the event e.g. sub-contracting for logo design, will be considered as long as these are justified in your application).
• Training courses not associated with developing skills in communicating the science of ecology for a public-facing audience e.g. specific skills training courses for academics, are not eligible for funding.
• Academic meetings.
• Closed meetings.
• Projects aimed solely at delivering curriculum to school children.
• Projects that are delivered to a small number (1-2) schools in a school setting where other members of the public can’t engage.

Activities engaging with all public audiences will be considered, but applications can be encouraged for projects that meet specific BES target audiences:

• Diverse – covering the breadth of backgrounds, perspectives, expertise and knowledge of both the public and the ecological community.
• Underrepresented – providing platforms for ecologists representing groups typically underrepresented in ecological careers.
• Next Generation – future ecologists, irrespective of age.
• Inclusive and accessible – for people of all ages, physical, learning, and social needs (though individual projects may reach particular groups). This may include science-engaged individuals, and those not previously interested in ecology.

Deadline for applications is 8 March.

Click here for full details and to apply