Find the latest updates of public engagement news, opportunities, funding, and more.
READ: Has the pandemic changed the publics' attitudes towards science?
A new post on the LSE Impact Blog provides a run-down from several surveys that have looked to assess public attitudes to science during the last year, compared to surveys carried out before the pandemic.
The Bubble Lab: A PER Lab case study
Shamit Shrivastava (formerly Engineering Science), Kelly Richards and Carly Smith-Huggins (Museum of Natural History) created a pop-up experience in communities in Oxford, targeting young people (10-13) and their families. A free kit of ‘do-at-home’ experiments and investigations was given out, providing a way to connect with researchers, and to visit the Museum of Natural History to share what they’ve learned and discovered.
Lost and looking for help? PER support available from MPLS
If you're interested in doing some public engagement with research (PER) but not sure where to find help, we offer a range of support or can point you in the right direction: from training sessions to answering your questions during help desk hours.
Watch: Comedy in Communications
As part of celebrations for International Women's Day this year the folks behind Finding Ada hosted a 'Comedy and Communication' hour long, live-streamed panel discussion looking at how we can all use comedy techniques in our STEM communications and teaching.
Prof Nick Hawes appointed as MPLS Academic Champion for Public Engagement with Research
Professor Hawes (Associate Professor in Engineering Science) takes over from Professor David Pyle (Earth Sciences) who was the Division’s first PER Champion, to provide leadership and support to progress the embedding of engagement into research practice.
Let's Talk About Climate: A PER Lab case study
Ken Amor and Sarah Lloyd (Museum of Natural History) were awarded £5,000 with the aim of working with year 11 and 12 teenagers to explore the science of the IPCC reports and reinterpret them, with the support of researchers and museum collections and staff, by creating their own ‘report’ (written, video, art or performance), and sharing this report with policy and decision-makers.
PER Seed Fund 2020-21 Projects Announced
A total of 21 projects have been funded through the 2020/21 PER Seed Fund, including 2 from MPLS. You can take a look at the funded projects for inspiration and ideas, ready for the next round that will open in Autumn.
STFC Public Engagement Reaction Awards - no deadline
Up to £5,000 is available to support quick-responses for timely projects e.g., that are responding to unexpected and/or highly significant discoveries, or significantly heightened awareness of the social, cultural, or economic impacts of STFC science and technology.
British Pharmacological Society Engagement Grants, no deadline
The British Pharmacological Society offers small grants up to £250 or larger grants up to £1,500 to support and promote engagement with all forms of pharmacology and drug discovery research.
Read: Five Rules to Communicate Evidence
27 November 2020
This comment piece in Nature provides excellent, clear tips and food for thought if you're a researcher who wants to communicate the evidence to foster public discussion and build trust.
The Ideas Fund - coming soon for mental wellbeing projects
The Ideas Fund is a new grants programme delivered by the British Science Association and funded by Wellcome that enables the UK public to think about, develop and test new ideas related to areas of mental wellbeing that are relevant to them. The Fund connects communities with research professionals to bring their ideas to life. The Fund will launch mid-January and run until October 2023. The first round of funding will be focused on four localities – more information on these will be available when the Fund is launched.
Read: What having conversations with voters taught me about science communication
"Even during a bitter election season, persuasive conversations were not only possible, but surprisingly attainable". It might feel like it's utterly impossible to have productive conversations about science sometimes but this article featured in Scientific American gives a really interesting perspective and reflections on effective strategies for having potentially sticky conversations. Get yourself a cuppa and give it a read; especially if your research is in climate change or any other 'controversial' area.
Read: applying storytelling to communicating research
In this blog a researcher works through their two favourite storytelling 'tools' to apply narrative to research communication.
The Equity Compass: a tool to help make engagement with young people more equitable
10 November 2020
The people behind the 'Science Capital' research and projects have a launched a new project focussed on young peoples' engagement with STEM, and how to help make it more equitable. They've released some new publications and tools for those undertaking engagement.
Congratulations to Dr Becky Smethurst - awarded IoPs Mary Somerville Medal
Dr Becky Smethurst (Department of Physics) has been awarded the Mary Somerville Medal for exceptional early career contributions to public engagement within physics in recognition of the success of her YouTube channel, Dr Becky.
What's coming up at Oxford Sparks?
An update on what's coming up at Oxford Sparks - the University of Oxford's platform for digital science engagement.
Interested in science writing? Check out these useful resources and training
21 October 2020
The Science Writing Round-Up is a monthly collection of the latest news, opportunities, resources, videos, and events related to science writing and science journalism. If you're interested in writing for the public or perhaps intrigued about career opportunities in the areas then it's well worth a read and subscribing to.
Free course: Become a Better Presenter: Improve Your Public Speaking Skills
FutureLearn is hosting this free three-week course, created by staff at the Royal Observatory Greenwich and the Presenter Network. Learn how to improve your presentation skills (face to face and digitally) and add personality into your presentation style.
Read: How to talk to the media about science
The Royal Society of Chemistry's Chemistry World provides a short article highlighting some of the key ways to hone your communications with the media.
Watch: SciComm advocacy - Writing an op-ed or letter to the editor webinar
In this Sharing Science webinar, part of the American Geophysical Union's "How to: Skills for the Complete Scientist" series, learn from folks who have both written and edited op-eds and LTEs for local and national outlets.