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28 April 2022

Upcoming Research Impact Workshops

Training esteiner

We have several RKEDF impact-related workshops coming up over the next couple of months; please use the links below to book onto them via OD:

Getting started with research impact: what is it? 12 May, 2pm (repeated on 16th September, 10am)

Evidencing Impact 14 June, 2pm (repeated on 12 October, 2pm)

Impact and Funding Applications 30 June, 2pm

As part of the newly announced Research Conference: Building Impact on 7 June we will also be holding live sessions on the Anatomy of a Case Study, investigating what an excellent case study looks like. This will be repeated online the following day (8 June, 2pm) for those who can’t make it so do look out for booking links for this too.

If you have any questions, please contact the Impact Advisors – Amanda Lazar or Beth Steiner.

28 April 2022

Learn more about the SIA game-changer call from successful applicants and conveners: sessions running 4th – 13th May

The call for game-changing research concepts is currently open to enable the growth of BU’s Strategic Investment Areas.

This is your opportunity to put forward concepts for which BU will be known in the years to come. Concepts that are prioritised for development by the SIA Steering Groups, will benefit from tailored institutional support to turn your idea into a reality. This could include identification of match-funding, support from estates, personalised funding development support and much more – you tell us what you need to make a transformative idea a reality.

Game-changing research concepts are welcomed from all of our academic community across all career stages.

To learn more about the SIAs, the open call and to discuss what you could do, please find further details on the staff intranet.

You can also come along to one of our short briefing sessions to ask any questions that you like and to learn more:

Bite-size briefing events – 30-minute sessions – email sia@bournemouth.ac.uk to receive a diary invitation

Discuss your plans with an SIA convener:

Assistive Technology – Thursday 5th May, 12.30pm with Prof Christos Gatzidis (Convener of the AT SIA)

If you would like to join the meeting, email sia@bournemouth.ac.uk for a diary invitation or click on the link to join the meeting on the day: Click here to join the meeting

Animation, Simulation & Visualisation – Wed 11th May, 3.00pm with Prof Kate Welham (Convener of the ASV SIA)

If you would like to join the meeting, email sia@bournemouth.ac.uk for a diary invitation or click on the link to join the meeting on the day: Click here to join the meeting

Learn more from successful applicants:

To learn more from previously successful applicants, discuss potential ideas or identify potential BU partners are taking place on the following dates/times:

Wednesday 4th May, 9.00am with Dr Diogo Montalvao, who is developing the ADDISONIC cluster

If you would like to join the meeting, email sia@bournemouth.ac.uk for a diary invitation or click on the link to join the meeting on the day: Click here to join the meeting

Tue 10th May, 1.00pm with Dr Xun He, who is developing the MINE cluster

If you would like to join the meeting, email sia@bournemouth.ac.uk for a diary invitation or click on the link to join the meeting on the day: Click here to join the meeting

Fri 13th May, 3.00pm with Prof Rob Britton, who is developing the FishE @ BU cluster

If you would like to join the meeting, email sia@bournemouth.ac.uk for a diary invitation or click on the link to join the meeting on the day: Click here to join the meeting

26 April 2022

RDS Funding Development Briefing on Wednesday 27/04/22

Funding opportunities Ainar

RDS Funding Development Briefing will be on Wednesday (26/04/22) at 12 noon. There will be no spotlight presentation this week.

Please not that there will be no briefing next week (04/05/2022).

Hopefully, you will be joining NIHR Information Session organised by our BU colleagues on Wednesday 27th April at 10am. More information you may find on Research Blog.

Looking forward to meeting you soon.

26 April 2022

NCCPE/NERC Events: Develop skills in public engagement with environmental research

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Environmental Engagement in Practice: An interactive events programme

Given the current environmental crises the world is facing, the importance of engaging the public with environmental research has never been higher. High-quality inclusive environmental engagement can raise awareness, build knowledge, and inspire action and change.

Funded by Natural Environment Research Council , the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement has developed the Environmental Engagement in Practice programme, a series of free day-long events, exploring themes for public engagement with environmental research.

The events will bring people across the sector together, from researchers and policy makers to creative and community practitioners, to learn and share ideas. Each event is tailored around a specific theme, informed by the Insights Report published earlier this year.

The first event will take place on Wednesday 25 May 2022 and will focus on practical skills that support public engagement. Registration for this event is now open.

The programme

Public engagement skills
Wednesday 25 May, 10am-4pm
This event will focus on practical skills that support public engagement work. All delegates will have the opportunity to participate in an inclusive engagement session, and then choose from a range of practical skills workshops including working with schools, working with policy makers, and creative storytelling.
Register for this event

Ethics of engagement and dealing with controversy (save the date)
Tuesday 6 September, 10am-4pm
This event will explore the ethical considerations needed to do engagement well. Through case studies and discussion, delegates will have the opportunity to explore the nature of controversy, and how these can be managed in an appropriate way. This session will include a reflection on what people value and how values play out when working alongside others.

Evaluation, sustainability and making a case (save the date)
Thursday 12 January 2023, 10am-4pm
This event covers three main challenges for those seeing to embed engagement into their work: how to evaluate your programme effectively; if and how to sustain your work; and how to advocate for the value of engagement within your research. These separate but interlinked challenges will be explored through interactive workshops, reflective sessions, and panel discussions.

Who can attend?

These events are intended for anyone working with environmental research with an interest in engagement and knowledge exchange, particularly those who are keen to develop or enhance their public engagement practices.

This includes:

Environmental researchers at any career level
Policy makers working with environmental research / researchers
Creative and community practitioners working with environmental research
Others who can demonstrate a connection with environmental research to their work

People at all levels of engagement experience, including those who are just starting out are welcome to attend.

Find out more and register

If you have any questions, please contact Alyssa Chafee at alyssa.chafee@uwe.ac.uk.

Alternatively, please contact BU Engagement Officer, Adam Morris publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

25 April 2022

Open Call Reminder: ESRC Festival 2022 – Deadline for applications Friday 29 April

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Funding of up to £1,000 available to deliver your event or activity.

ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual, UK-wide, free celebration of the social sciences, planned to take place from 22 October – 13 November 2022. BU have been involved in the festival for over a decade, running our own internal selection process and delivering up to ten activities per year.

ESRC Festival 2022 Theme

The theme set by the ESRC for this year’s festival is ‘my local area’’ and the ESRC wants to see at least a quarter of festival events based on this. This could be an exploration of Dorset’s social and economic history, the future of Bournemouth High Street, issues around deprivation in coastal towns or rural isolation. The theme is linked to the place-based agenda, which is a priority area for ESRC and UKRI. We encourage you to think broadly around this and we are happy for you to decide how far away you consider ‘local’ to be.

Who can apply?

The festival aims to encourage, support and create opportunities for social science researchers to engage with non-academic audiences. It is a prestigious initiative by a major research funder, and BU’s continued involvement is justified by the quality of events and activities. Being part of this festival is an achievement worth citing and celebrating.

It is an excellent opportunity to engage people outside of academia with your research and with the benefit of co-ordinated support and promotion from RDS and the ESRC.

Events must “feature social science (ideally with a social scientist involved in the event)”. If this doesn’t clearly apply to you, consider these options;

Does your research have clear implications for society that could be explored from a social science perspective?
Could you collaborate with a social scientist, combining your resources and creativity to explore the impact of your research? If you’re looking for a collaborator, the Research Blog or BU website are great places to start or contact us for help.

What support is available?

Before applying, you will have access to:

Bookable one-on-one advice slots with BU’s Engagement Officer
Detailed applicant guidance to help you apply

When your application is successful, you will receive:

A half-day training session from an expert external public engagement trainer
Continuing advice and support from BU’s public engagement team on all areas of planning, promoting delivering, evaluating your activity
The promotional boost from being part of a huge national festival.

How to apply

Read the application guidance to support you in completing an effective application.
Submit your application using the online form. You can save your progress and return later, though it’s advisable to keep a backup elsewhere. There is a pdf version of the whole form for drafting purposes only.

Find out more about the resources available to help plan and support your application

If you have any questions, please email the public engagement team.

25 April 2022

Collaboration with MMIHS in Nepal

international, PG research, student research, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

This past three weeks Bournemouth University (BU) has strengthened our existing collaboration with MMIHS (Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Science) in Kathmandu. Until 2023 we have a staff and student Erasmus+ student exchange with MMIHS. Currently one FHSS PhD student is in Nepal at MMIHS as part of this Erasmus+ exchange. Two weeks Dr. Pramod Regmi, Senior Lecturer in International Health, was here for the GCRF-funded health and migration workshop which was organised in Kathmandu jointly with MMIHS. See the BU Research Blog of 15th April for more details (click here!).

Yesterday Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen met colleagues from the UK and Nepal at MMIHS to analyse some of the data from the Nepal Federal Health System Project. This three-year major collaborative project examines the consequences for the health system of Nepal’s move to a federal government structure in 2015. This is a joint project led by the University of Sheffield with Bournemouth University, the University of Huddersfield, and two institutions in Nepal: MMIHS and PHASE Nepal. This interdisciplinary study is funded by the UK Health Systems Research Initiative [Grant ref. MR/T023554/1].

At BU we are looking forward to welcoming MSc students and academic staff from MMIHS to BU as part of this exchange. We hope to generate interest among Nepalese postgraduate student to apply for a PhD place at BU.

Last, but not least, last week Prof. Vanora Hundley and I launched the book Academic Writing and Publishing in Health & Social Sciences in Kathmandu. This textbook has three chapter authors who are currently (or were recently) affiliated with MMIHS: Prof. Sujan Marahatta, Dr. Pratik Adhikary and Dr. Yubaraj Baral.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

CMMPH

Reference:

Wasti, S.P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P.P., Hundley, V. with Shreesh, K. (Eds.) (2022) Academic Writing and Publishing in Health & Social Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal: Himal Books. [ISBN: 9789937117609]

22 April 2022

Public Engagement Funding Opportunity: Engaging the public with environmental science 2022

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) second round of Growing Roots (annual funding opportunity) has launched.

Apply for funding to develop new ways to engage the public with environmental science. This opportunity aims to support public engagement with environmental science research.

Projects must be delivered between 25 July 2022 and 28 February 2023.

The full economic cost of your project can be between £5,000 and £10,000.

The deadline for applications is Wednesday 18 May 2022, 4pm

A webinar and Q & A session for applicants will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at 1:30pm If you are interested in attending the webinar, please register by emailing publicengagement@nerc.ukri.org

If you would like to discuss your application with the Public Engagement with Research team, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

22 April 2022

Take part in the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2022: Deadline for applications – Friday 29 April

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

ESRC Festival Open Call: Deadline for applications Friday 29 April. Funding of up to £1,000 is available to deliver your event or activity

ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual, UK-wide, free celebration of the social sciences, planned to take place from 22 October – 13 November 2022. BU have been involved in the festival for over a decade, running our own internal selection process and delivering up to ten activities per year.

ESRC Festival 2022 Theme

The theme set by the ESRC for this year’s festival is ‘my local area’’ and the ESRC wants to see at least a quarter of festival events based on this. This could be an exploration of Dorset’s social and economic history, the future of Bournemouth High Street, issues around deprivation in coastal towns or rural isolation. The theme is linked to the place-based agenda, which is a priority area for ESRC and UKRI. We encourage you to think broadly around this and we are happy for you to decide how far away you consider ‘local’ to be.

Who can apply?

The festival aims to encourage, support and create opportunities for social science researchers to engage with non-academic audiences. It is a prestigious initiative by a major research funder, and BU’s continued involvement is justified by the quality of events and activities. Being part of this festival is an achievement worth citing and celebrating.

It is an excellent opportunity to engage people outside of academia with your research and with the benefit of co-ordinated support and promotion from RDS and the ESRC.

Events must “feature social science (ideally with a social scientist involved in the event)”. If this doesn’t clearly apply to you, consider these options;

Does your research have clear implications for society that could be explored from a social science perspective?
Could you collaborate with a social scientist, combining your resources and creativity to explore the impact of your research? If you’re looking for a collaborator, the Research Blog or BU website are great places to start or contact us for help.

What support is available?

Before applying, you will have access to:

Bookable one-on-one advice slots with BU’s Engagement Officer
Detailed applicant guidance to help you apply

When your application is successful, you will receive:

A half-day training session from an expert external public engagement trainer
Continuing advice and support from BU’s public engagement team on all areas of planning, promoting delivering, evaluating your activity
The promotional boost from being part of a huge national festival.

How to apply

Read the application guidance to support you in completing an effective application.
Submit your application using the online form. You can save your progress and return later, though it’s advisable to keep a backup elsewhere. There is a pdf version of the whole form for drafting purposes only.

Find out more about the resources available to help plan and support your application

If you have any questions, please email the public engagement team.

20 April 2022

Update: RDS Funding Development Briefing on Wednesday 20/04/22

Funding opportunities Ainar

Our RDS Funding Development Briefing is today (20/04/22) at 12 noon.

There is a change regarding spotlight presentation; instead of MRC Overview we will discuss 12 top tips for writing a grant application.

Thank you to all of you who have engaged in the sessions, we are looking forward to meeting you again.

15 April 2022

GRCF supported migration and health workshop in Nepal

international, Training, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Earlier this week Bournemouth University (BU) ran the ‘Migration and Health Research Capacity Building Workshop for Early Career Researchers’ in Kathmandu. The organisation of this two-day event was jointly with the University of Huddersfield, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) in Kathmandu and the charity Green Tara Nepal. The event was part of the BU-led Health Research Network for Migrant Workers in Asia whose formation was supported two years ago by GCRF (Global Challenges Research Fund). The workshop plan was designed by BU’s Dr. Pramod Regmi and Dr. Nirmal Aryal. Our recently started FHSS PhD student Yagya Adhikari and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen also contributed to the workshop in Kathmandu. Yagya spoke about his PhD which focuses on ‘Parental migration and its impact on the health and well-being of left-behind adolescents in Nepal’.

Further contributions to the workshop were from former BU PhD student Dr. Pratik Adhikary (now working for PHASE Nepal) and two of our academic colleagues from the University of Huddersfield: Dr. Sharada Prasad Wasti and Prof. Padam Simkhada. Prof. Simkhada is also Visiting Professor in FHSS.

14 April 2022

Take part in the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2022: Deadline for applications – Friday 29 April

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

ESRC Festival Open Call: Deadline for applications Friday 29 April. Funding of up to £1,000 is available to deliver your event or activity

The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual, UK-wide, free celebration of the social sciences, planned to take place from 22 October – 13 November 2022. BU have been involved in the festival for over a decade, running our own internal selection process and delivering up to ten activities per year.

Who can apply?

The festival aims to encourage, support and create opportunities for social science researchers to engage with non-academic audiences. It is a prestigious initiative by a major research funder, and BU’s continued involvement is justified by the quality of events and activities. Being part of this festival is an achievement worth citing and celebrating.

It is an excellent opportunity to engage people outside of academia with your research and with the benefit of co-ordinated support and promotion from RDS and the ESRC.

The theme set by the ESRC for this year’s festival is ‘my local area’. The ESRC want to see at least a quarter of festival events on this theme.

Events must “feature social science (ideally with a social scientist involved in the event)”. If this doesn’t clearly apply to you, consider these options;

Does your research have clear implications for society that could be explored from a social science perspective?
Could you collaborate with a social scientist, combining your resources and creativity to explore the impact of your research? If you’re looking for a collaborator, the Research Blog or BU website are great places to start or contact us for help.

What support is available?

Before applying, you will have access to:

Bookable one-on-one advice slots with BU’s Engagement Officer
Detailed applicant guidance to help you apply

When your application is successful, you will receive:

A half-day training session from an expert external public engagement trainer
Continuing advice and support from BU’s public engagement team on all areas of planning, promoting delivering, evaluating your activity
The promotional boost from being part of a huge national festival.

How to apply

Read the application guidance to support you in completing an effective application.
Submit your application using the online form. You can save your progress and return later, though it’s advisable to keep a backup elsewhere. There is a pdf version of the whole form for drafting purposes only.

Find out more about the resources available to help plan and support your application

If you have any questions, please email the public engagement team.

14 April 2022

Three BU co-presentations at this years BNAC Study Day

Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

This year’s BNAC (Britain-Nepal Academic Council) Study Days are hosted by the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Oxford. The Study Days are held today (14th April) and yesterday. BNAC promotes academic and scholarly links between Britain and Nepal through, among other things, collaborative research, exchange programmes, and the organisation of annual lectures, and seminars on areas of mutual interest to both British and Nepali academics and researchers.

Three presentations at this two-day event are co-produced by BU colleagues.

12 April 2022

ESRC Festival of Social Science 2022: Call for applications – Deadline Friday 29 April

Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual, UK-wide, free celebration of the social sciences, planned to take place from 22 October – 13 November 2022.

The festival is a prestigious initiative by a major research funder, and BU’s continued involvement is justified by the quality of our events and activities. Being part of this festival is an achievement worth citing and celebrating. BU have been involved in the festival for over a decade, running our own internal selection process and delivering up to ten activities per year.

Funding of up to £1,000 is available to deliver your event.

Who can apply?

Events must “feature social science (ideally with a social scientist involved in the event)”. If this doesn’t clearly apply to you, consider these options;

Does your research have clear implications for society that could be explored from a social science perspective?
Could you collaborate with a social scientist, combining your resources and creativity to explore the impact of your research? If you’re looking for a collaborator, the Research Blog or BU website are great places to start or contact us for help

What support is available?

Before applying, you will have access to:

Bookable one-on-one advice slots with BU’s Engagement Officer; Book an advice slot.
Detailed applicant guidance to help you apply

When your application is successful, you will receive:

A half-day training session from an expert external public engagement trainer
Continuing advice and support from BU’s public engagement team on all areas of planning, promoting delivering, evaluating your activity
The promotional boost from being part of a huge national festival.

How to apply

Read the application guidance to support you in completing an effective application.
Submit your application using the online form. You can save your progress and return later, though it’s advisable to keep a backup elsewhere. There is a pdf version of the whole form for drafting purposes only.

Find out more about this year’s festival theme and the resources available to plan and support your application

If you have any questions, please email the public engagement team.

12 April 2022

REMINDER: RDS Funding Development Briefing on Wednesday 13/03/22

Funding opportunities Ainar

The next RDS Funding Development Briefing will be on Wednesday (13/03/22) at 12 noon.

According to our plan, there will not be a spotlight presentation this week. To add value to the meeting, feel free to join with external funding related questions you may have.

Next Wednesday (20/03/22), we will have MRC Overview for you.

Important note: those academics considering to apply for ERC Starting Grant 2023 Call, please contact Research Facilitator International Ainar Blaudums or your Funding Development Officer as early as possible to let us plan together timeline for internal approvals. It may happen that ItB is required late in June before call opening (call opening planned for 12/07/2022, expected application submission deadline on 25/10/2022).

Wishing you all wonderful Easter!

10 April 2022

Summit of Health & Population Scientists in Nepal 2022

international, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Today say the start of the Eight National Summit of Health & Population Scientists in Nepal. Bournemouth University is involved in two presentation. The first will be one by University of Huddersfield PhD student Tamang Pasang, and her supervisors Prof. Padam Simkhada (FHSS Visiting Faculty), Dr. Bibha Simkhada (former BU Lecturer in Nursing and current FHSS Visiting Faculty) and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen. Pasang will be talking about her thesis fieldwork: ‘Impact of Federalisation in Maintaining Quality of Maternal and Neonatal Care in Nepalese Health System’.

The second presentation will focus of the Nepal Federal Health System Project, our major collaborative project examining the consequences for the health system of Nepal’s move to a federal government structure in 2015. This is a joint project led by the University of Sheffield with Bournemouth University, the University of Huddersfield, and two institutions in Nepal: Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences MMIHS) and PHASE Nepal. This interdisciplinary study is funded by the UK Health Systems Research Initiative [Grant ref.
MR/T023554/1].

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery, Maternity & Perinatal Health (CMMPH)

7 April 2022

Open call: last chance to apply for public engagement funding for 2022!

Funding opportunities, Public engagement Amanda Edwards

Apply for £500-£5,000 to fund your public engagement activity or event

The deadline for applications is midnight 24 April to enable funds to be awarded by mid-May. All spending must be completed by 31 July.

We welcome applications from researchers at all stages of their careers. RDS can provide 1-2-1 advice on preparing an application and will also work with successful applicants to support planning and delivery to ensure outcomes are achieved within the timeline.

This is the final opportunity to apply for internal funding this year for public engagement with research activity.

What we’re looking for

You will need to demonstrate that your proposed activity will involve a two-way interaction between you and your chosen public. The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) defines public engagement as “the myriad ways in which the activity and benefits of… research can be shared with the public”.

“Engagement is, by definition, a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.” NCCPE

How to apply

Please first read the policy and applicant guidance. Then submit the online application form. A PDF version is supplied so you may preview the form, but this must not be submitted. Supporting statements from HoDs may be submitted via email.

Applications must be submitted by midnight Sunday 24 April.

If you’d like to discuss your application with our PER team, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

5 April 2022

Funding development briefings in April and spotlights this year

Funding opportunities Ainar

Funding development briefings will continue in April as usual on Wednesdays at noon.

Spotlight presentation this Wednesday (06/03/22) will be BA Small Grants.

Last week we promised to publish a summary of remaining spotlight presentations scheduled for this academic year, please see details below:

20/04/22 – MRC Overview
04/05/22 – British Academy Mid-career Fellowship and British Academy/Leverhulme Senior Fellowship, Mid-career Fellowships
11/05/22 – RS Industry Fellowships
18/05/22 – British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship (BAPDF) and Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship (LECF)
01/06/22 – Getting Started with funding application at BU
15/06/22 – Leverhulme Research Project – Outline
29/06/22 – ESRC New investigator (open call)
20/07/22 – AHRC Research Development and Engagement Fellowships workshop (ECR and Standard – open call for both schemes)
27/07/22 – Horizon Europe Work Programmes 2023-24 (Pillar II – Societal Challenges)

Just as a reminder – registration is still open for UKRO series of information webinars for those interested in applying to MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2022 Call, more details regarding webinars you can find here (UKRO login details required). First webinar (Overview and Eligibility Rules) on 25 April 2022 at 10:00 UK Time.

As usual, looking forward to meeting you on Wednesday.

5 April 2022

Open call – funded public engagement opportunity – ESRC Festival of Social Science 2022

Festival of Learning, Funding opportunities, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement Adam Morris

The call for applications for this year’s ESRC Festival of Social Science is now open – deadline Fri 29 April.

What is the ESRC Festival of Social Science?

The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual, UK-wide, free celebration of the social sciences, planned to take place from 22 October – 13 November 2022. BU have been involved in the festival for over a decade, running our own internal selection process and delivering up to ten activities per year.

The festival aims to encourage, support and create opportunities for social science researchers to engage with non-academic audiences.

Why should I take part?

The festival is a prestigious initiative by a major research funder, and BU’s continued involvement is justified by the quality of our events and activities. Being part of this festival is an achievement worth citing and celebrating.

It is an excellent opportunity to engage people outside of academia with your research and with the benefit of co-ordinated support and promotion from RDS and the ESRC.

You can apply for up to £1000 to deliver your project.

Are there rules about topics, or target audiences?

The theme set by the ESRC for this year’s festival is ‘my local area’. The ESRC want to see at least a quarter of festival events on this theme.

Although encouraged, adhering to this theme is not essential for your proposal. Other social science themes are still welcome.

The ESRC expect to see the majority (>80%) of events targeted at ‘general public’ and youth audiences. This means people attending out of a personal interest in the topic, rather than in a professional capacity.

There is scope for a small minority (<20%) of activities targeting professional stakeholder audiences, for example, people whose work uses your research. Bearing in mind the limited capacity and higher competition for such proposals aimed at professional audiences, your application would need to be outstanding to merit inclusion.

What if I’ve never done any public engagement before?

Everyone has to start somewhere, and this is the ideal place. You’ll have access to comprehensive support, advice and training throughout. If you’re unsure, seek out a more experienced colleague to collaborate with.

Can I apply if I’m not a social scientist?

The ESRC says that events must “feature social science (ideally with a social scientist involved in the event)”. If this doesn’t clearly apply to you, consider these options;

Does your research have clear implications for society that could be explored from a social science perspective?
Could you collaborate with a social scientist, combining your resources and creativity to explore the impact of your research? If you’re looking for a collaborator, the Research Blog or BU website are great places to start or contact us for help.

What will I be expected to do?

You’ll be expected to;

Familiarise yourself with best practice for public engagement with research. Whether you’re new to this or experienced, there’s always room to improve.
Apply to our internal panel
If successful, attend an initial training session to start out right
Plan, deliver and evaluate your activity or event, working with the public engagement team to shape your project into an impactful, professional and fascinating experience.

What support will I get?

Being part of this festival means a higher level of support and reach than we are normally able to provide.

Before applying, you’ll have access to:

A dedicated session of the Public Engagement with Research (PER) Network, featuring previous event holders.
Bookable one-on-one advice slots with BU’s Engagement Officer.
Detailed applicant guidance to help you apply.

When your application is successful, you’ll get:

A half-day training session from an expert external public engagement trainer
Continuing advice and support from BU’s public engagement team on all areas of planning, promoting delivering, evaluating your activity.
The promotional boost from being part of a huge national festival.

What next?

If you’re interested in applying, here’s what to do next;

Explore previous events from BU and examples from around the country.
Start brushing up on how to make public engagement work for you and your audience. A great place to start is BU’s own video guide to getting started in public engagement with research (Brightspace). You can also browse guidance and case studies from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE).
Book an advice slot.

How to apply

After following the previous steps, read the application guidance to support you in completing an effective application.
Submit your application using the online form. You can save your progress and return later, though it’s advisable to keep a backup elsewhere. There is a pdf version of the whole form for drafting purposes only.

We’ll provide more information on applying to the ESRC Festival of Social Science on this blog and the PER Network over the coming weeks. If you have a question in the meantime, please email the team.