BU Research Blog

Further funding to foster engaged research

We are pleased to announce there will be a new round of funding available for public engagement with research activity early in the new year. BU’s Engaged Research Seed Fund aims to continue our ambition to embed an engaged research approach across the university in order to improve the quality of our research and help us respond to societal needs.

BU Engaged Research Seed Fund: what next?

We will be sharing guidance for applicants and information on how to apply early in January. As before, the fund will operate on a rolling basis and provide small, individual awards up to £500 to kickstart or develop engagement. It could be used, for example, to carry out a pilot activity to build networks in preparation for a funding bid or to develop an engagement activity for a new community.

Applicants will need to describe how the seed funding will lead to further engagement and how that engagement will be used to enhance external bidding or accelerate the translation of research into impact.

Success stories from the pilot scheme

Between February and May 2024, we received 13 applications and funded 7 projects, totalling £3,131.

Engagement activities included: a collaborative workshop on psychosocial research and Shakespeare’s Pericles at the Young Actors Theatre, London; a hybrid pilot public lecture/debate on law and ethics entitled ‘Your rights to the right diagnosis in Dorset’; involvement in a community-run ‘Live Well with Pain Café’ session to gain lived experience perspectives; and a school-based event run in conjunction with Southwest Police Regional Cyber Crime Unit Prevent team.

Feedback from award holders:

“This funding truly enabled a pilot project that allowed us to explore a topic, try out some ideas, connect with partners and the public, and collaborate on a new research project”

“The Seed Fund was invaluable in realising [our] project… This proves that even small amounts of funding – like £500 – can make a huge difference in facilitating projects when the right conditions are there”

What is public engagement with research?

UKRI defines public engagement as ‘any activity that seeks to break down the barriers between research, innovation and society’, while Wellcome describes engaged research as ’embedding stakeholder perspectives across the research lifecycle – from agenda-setting, funding and research design through to implementation, monitoring and evaluation’.

“We know that when wider society is involved, research and innovation become more relevant and useful for everyone. For these reasons, a key priority for everyone working in research and innovation must be to forge deeper connections with wider society” UKRI Public Engagement Strategy

Public engagement with research encompasses a range of activity, with co-production at one end of the spectrum and public lectures at the other. To aid understanding of the many activities that public engagement encompasses, Wellcome have even created The Public Engagement ‘Onion’:

If you are interested in applying for the seed fund, you may want to look at the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement’s website for a wealth of free resources and advice on designing, delivering and evaluating public engagement.

For informal enquiries about the funding, please email Impact Manager Amanda Edwards.