BU Research Blog

24 March 2025

Join our online info session to find out how you can apply for the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) is back, running from 18 October to 8 November 2025.

Partnership with the University of Southampton

For the third consecutive year, Bournemouth University is partnering with the University of Southampton (UoS) to deliver a programme of social science events across Dorset and Hampshire. This collaboration enables BU researchers to organise joint events with UoS colleagues and share impactful research with a broader community.

Funding available for your social science event

Apply for up to £1,000 and join the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2025 to showcase your research.

Online information session

Join our online information session to enhance your chances of a successful application and learn how to make the most of this exciting opportunity.

BU’s Public Engagement Team will co-host this session with the UoS Impact Funding Team. During the session, you will hear about past festival events at both universities, learn first-hand experiences from previous participants, and gain an understanding of the application process. You will also receive guidance on how to get involved in this year’s festival.

Wednesday 2 April 2025
11am – 12pm
Online (via Teams)

To attend, please register and we will be in touch with further information

Register here

Get inspired about planning your event

The 2025 open call will launch soon. In the meantime, explore these resources from last year to gather ideas and see which events resonated with public audiences while aligning with the festival’s goals:

To help with planning and audience engagement, check out these useful guides from last year’s open call:

If you would like to start discussing your ideas, please get in touch publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

20 March 2025

Dorset Women’s Health Programme – Invitation to attend celebration stakeholder event 24th April

Public engagement Vanora Hundley

Since the launch of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Women’s Health Strategy for England in 2022, partners in Dorset have been working together on the Dorset Women’s Health Programme.

On Thursday 24^th April 2025 we are holding a celebration event, not only to showcase the amazing work that has been achieved, but also to give you the opportunity to have your say about what happens next.

This event will: –

· Showcase the collaborative partnership between Dorset Women CIC, NHS Dorset, Bournemouth University and our other partners.

· Unveil our new Women’s Health Website: a local evidence-based online resource which aims to signpost and support women throughout their healthcare journey in Dorset.

· Include presentations by guest speakers and informative panel discussions on high-priority subject areas in women’s health.

· Provide insights from some of the women who participated in the projects during the programme.

· Host discussions on lessons learned and on formulating strategies for ensuring the sustainability of the positive changes that have been made.

Booking your place: –

Location: The Dorford Centre, Bridport Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RR: https://dorchesterbc.org.uk/location

Timing: 9.30am (for a 10am start) to 3.30m

Booking: Please book a free place via Eventbrite: Celebrating Women’s Health – Dorset Stakeholder Event Tickets, Thu 24 Apr 2025 at 09:30 | Eventbrite

17 March 2025

We want to hear from you – Tell us about your involvement in Social, Cultural, and Community events

HEIF, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Your involvement matters – Please share details of BU’s social, community, and cultural events for the annual Higher Education Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey

Bournemouth University reports on a range of knowledge exchange activities for the HE-BCI survey, collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Providing a comprehensive view of these activities is crucial, as Research England uses HE-BCI data to allocate the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) annually. For 2024-25, BU received £549,064.

Data collection period

The SharePoint site collects information on all social, community, and cultural engagement events delivered by BU between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025.

Please ensure all event details are uploaded by Friday 17 October 2025.

Find your faculty table

Complete all the columns in your faculty’s table, paying particular attention to the Number of attendees and Academic staff time for delivery.

Please note that this year, we cannot include data solely uploaded to the public engagement records on BRIAN, as they do not capture all the information required by HESA. If you have already added data to BRIAN, you must also upload full details to the SharePoint site to ensure your event is included in the survey.

Further support

For detailed guidance on what to include, please refer to the FAQ’s

Please contact the Public Engagement Team should you have any additional questions publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 March 2025

March’s Research Café – How can we help protect our towns and cities from cyberattacks?

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

BU’s Research Café kicks off exploring cybersecurity in smart cities

Our new Research Café series launched last week at the BGB Café with a thought-provoking discussion on smart cities and cybersecurity. The event brought together members of the public, researchers, and local businesses to exchange ideas, ask questions, and connect with BU’s research community.

Professor Vasilis Katos speaking at Research Café

Leading the conversation was BU’s Professor Vasilis Katos, who explored how residents, businesses, and policymakers can work together to protect smart city infrastructure from growing cyber threats. Professor Katos highlighted the increasing reliance on digital systems in urban environments and the need for proactive security measures to prevent attacks that could disrupt essential services.

Joining the conversation was Emily Rosenorn-Lanng, PhD student and CEO of BU pre-spin-out Cyber Innovations Ltd, who shed light on the often-overlooked psychological impact of cyberattacks. Emily emphasised how cyber incidents can leave individuals and small businesses feeling vulnerable, highlighting the need for greater awareness, resilience, and support systems.

Professor Vasilis Katos & Emily Rosenorn-Lanng with Research Café attendees

The session sparked a lively discussion, with audience members—including local business owners—sharing their concerns and experiences. Attendees described the event as “exceptionally engaging,” “eye-opening,” and “a fantastic opportunity to learn from experts.”

Emily Rosenorn-Lanng reflected on the event “Cybersecurity isn’t just about technology—it’s about people. When attacks happen, they don’t just affect data; they impact lives, trust, and livelihoods. Protecting our digital world means understanding the human side of cybersecurity too.”

Next up in our Research Café series

Showcasing Tomorrow’s Researchers – Tuesday 6 May, 6:30-8pm at BGB Café

We are excited to announce the next event in our Research Café series will feature postgraduate researchers from Bournemouth University, who will share insights into their innovative research.

Come along to hear about their work, ask questions, and gain a glimpse into the future of research.

More details coming soon

Contact

If you have any questions about this event or the Research Café series, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 March 2025

Take part in the 23rd Annual ESRC Festival of Social Science

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The ESRC Festival of Social Science (FoSS) returns from 18 October to 8 November 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to showcase their work in the UK’s largest celebration of social science research.

Partnership with the University of Southampton

For the third consecutive year, Bournemouth University is partnering with the University of Southampton (UoS) to deliver a programme of social science events across Dorset and Hampshire. This collaboration enables BU researchers to organise joint events with UoS colleagues and share impactful research with a broader community.

Why get involved?

Engage with non-academic audiences and make a meaningful impact in the community
Showcase your research beyond the university to reach wider audiences
Gain valuable public engagement experience while enhancing your communication skills
Expand your professional network through collaborations with fellow researchers

Online information session

BU’s Public Engagement Team will co-host an online information session with the Impact Funding Team (Research and Innovation Services, UoS). During the session, you will learn about past FoSS events at both universities and hear first-hand experiences from previous participants. The session will also explain the application process and guide you on how to get involved in this year’s festival.

Wednesday 2 April 2025
11am – 12pm
Online (via Teams)

To attend, please register and we will be in touch with further information.

Register here

Thinking about applying?

The call for applications will open soon. In the meantime, if you are considering applying, we recommend reviewing the 2024 festival open call to gain a clear understanding of the expectations and festival criteria. Understanding the ESRC’s guidelines and expectations is key to submitting a strong application.

If you have colleagues at the University of Southampton who might be interested in running a joint event, consider reaching out to explore collaboration opportunities. Joint events can strengthen your application and broaden your impact, so they are strongly encouraged.

Get inspired by past festival events. For ideas and inspiration, take a look at:

These resources can help you better understand the types of events that resonate with public audiences and align with the festival’s goals.

Helpful guides

These guides from last year’s open call are valuable resources to help you understand and support event planning and audience engagement.

Funding and Support

Funding of up to £1,000 per event is available to support your event. BU’s Public Engagement team will offer ongoing advice and guidance at every stage—from application and event development to planning, delivery, and evaluation.

New drop-in surgery for application support

In addition to the information session, the Public Engagement Team will be hosting a drop-in surgery on campus, providing you with the opportunity to meet the team and receive additional support for your application.

This will:

Offer guidance on festival requirements and application criteria
Assist researchers in refining event ideas to ensure alignment with ESRC guidelines
Provide one-to-one support to strengthen applications and improve the chances of success
Share insights on best practices for engaging diverse audiences
Help refine event formats and maximise impact

Take advantage of this support to enhance your proposal and perfect your event plans.

If you would like to start discussing your ideas, please get in touch with the team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

12 March 2025

RDS Academic & Researcher Induction

Knowledge Exchange, Post-award, R & KE Operations jfallows

RDS Academic & Researcher Induction – Weds 23rd April, 10:00 – 11:00, online

The primary aim of this event is to raise participants’ awareness of how to get started in research at BU or, for more established staff, how to take their research to the next level. It will provide participants with essential, practical information and orientation in key stages and processes of research and knowledge exchange at BU

You’ll be made aware of the support available at each stage of the research lifecycle and get an introduction to the Research, Development & Support Team, who are here to help! It will be hosted by our experts who are responsible for strategy, outputs, ethics, public engagement, knowledge exchange, project management & training. It will include:

A brief overview of research excellence at BU and how RDS can help/support academic staff
How we can support your impact, public engagement, knowledge exchange & output activity and why it’s important – essential to quality bids and the REF
How to find funding opportunities and access support for the application process
How to manage an awarded RKE projects, incl aspects on intellectual property & commercialisation
Key points on research ethics and governance
Where to find what training is available, incl other BU support and internal networks

Come along, join in, get some important insights – hopefully see you there! Book your place HERE

If you are new to academia, it may be helpful for you to meet with your faculty mentor to guide your familiarisation of research at BU and expectations of an early career researcher before attending this induction. You can also join the Early Career researcher (ECR) Network.

For some background and more immediate information on RDS, please head to the RKE SharePoint

For further information on this event or joining the ECRN, please contact RKEDF@bournemouth.ac.uk

12 March 2025

We can help you engage more people in your public engagement event

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

At Bournemouth University, we are committed to making our research accessible beyond the university.

If you are organising an event that connects members of the public with BU’s research, we can help promote it to relevant audiences through our monthly newsletters and social media channels.

To be considered for inclusion, your event or activity must be;

Intended for and open to non-academic audiences
Focused on BU research, either solely or as part of a wider programme. Events or activities that do not involve BU research, such as marketing or recruitment events, will not be accepted.
Submitted, at the latest, in the first two weeks of the month preceding the event. For example, an event taking place in June should be submitted via the form any time before 14 May.

Event descriptions may be edited for consistency in style with other content.

Share your upcoming public event or activity

If you have any questions, please contact the team publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

6 March 2025

Calling all PGRs! Apply for the May Research Café by 14 March

PG research, Public engagement yokselferraris

Develop your public engagement skills in a friendly environment!

Our new Research Café series is underway, and we are looking for 3-4 postgraduate researchers to take part in the first PGR showcase of the series in May. These events are designed to showcase research from across BU—including arts, humanities, science, health, technology, business, and more.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Tuesday, 6 May
🕡 Time: 6:30–8:00 pm
📍 Venue: Bournemouth University Gateway Building (BGB) Café

Why Participate?

Enhance Communication Skills: Develop your ability to present complex ideas in an accessible manner.

Engage with the Public: Share your research with a diverse audience and gain fresh perspectives.

Receive Professional Support: Benefit from training and guidance provided by our experienced Public Engagement Team.
Boost Confidence: Build confidence in public speaking and research dissemination.

What to Expect:

Shifting away from traditional slide-based presentations, this event encourages engagement and interaction. You’ll deliver a short talk about your research, followed by an interactive discussion where you can engage with the audience and answer their questions.

How to Get Involved

Complete a short form to express your interest and tell us a bit about your research.

If selected, you will receive guidance on developing an engaging talk for a public audience.
The Public Engagement Team will organise and promote the event to local public audiences. We will support you every step of the way—from refining your talk to helping with logistics on the day.

Apply Now

If you’re interested in taking part, please complete this form.

🕔 Application deadline: Friday, 14 March, 5:00 pm.

Please note: Completing this form does not guarantee a place in the event. We will be in touch to discuss your interest further.

For any questions, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

What Previous Participants Had to Say

PGRs who took part in last year’s Café Scientifique event found the experience immensely rewarding:

“It was so helpful and improved my presentation. The feedback helped to make it better.”

“I realised that not only scientists, but the public also are extremely interested in the research we are doing. It is a major motivation I have taken from doing this event.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed presenting my research during the Café Scientifique. To be honest, I was nervous before and didn’t expect the community here to be so welcoming and passionate about research.”

Contact Us

For any questions, please reach out to the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

We look forward to your participation in making our First Research Café PGR Session a memorable and successful event!

3 March 2025

Being Human Festival 2025: call for applications now open

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The call for applications for Being Human Festival 2025 is now open

Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities. Each year researchers and staff from universities and research organisations are invited to take part in the national festival by organising a public engagement event or activity, rooted in humanities research.

This year’s festival will take place 6-15 November with the theme ‘Between the Lines’.

Being Human is a place-based festival that emphasises interaction, collaboration and engaging with communities outside higher education. The festival supports innovative, participatory and creative activities that foster genuine, two-way connections with communities.

You can get an idea of what the festival looks like, and the types of activities they support, in the 2024 highlights film, and by reading the 2024 highlights blog.

There are various ways to participate in the festival:

Funded pathway

Festival Event Grants: up to £4,000 to organise a single event or multiple events. Deadline: Thursday 10 April Being Human 2025 – Festival Event Grant – Further Information.pdf

Please note: only applicants from UK Higher Education Institutions and AHRC-recognised IROs are eligible to receive grants.

Unfunded pathway

Festival Event: organise a festival event that does not require funding from Being Human. Deadline: Friday 4 July

Funding details and support available

There is no additional funding available for small expenses, and applicants should seek support from their faculty in the first instance.
The Festival Hub model is not possible this year, as it would require match funding, which we do not have.
If you wish to apply for the £4,000 event grant, you are welcome to do so, but there is no separate funding for other expenses.
BU’s Public Engagement Team can support applicants by helping them plan and design engagement activities to ensure meaningful and effective public interaction.

Further details about how to apply, and answers to some frequently asked questions, are available here.

Training Programme 2025

The full training programme for 2025, has sessions running from February to October. This year’s programme includes new events on engagement and inclusion and creative engagement, alongside sessions on audiences, partnerships, promoting events and delivering events.

The sessions are led by expert facilitators, alongside members of the Being Human Festival team. Training is primarily aimed at those taking part, or thinking of taking part, in Being Human Festival, but will be of interest to those working in public engagement more broadly.

All sessions are free and take place online, but booking is required. Find out more and book individual sessions.

Toolkits

The Public Engagement Toolkits have recently been updated. These downloadable PDF resources cover subjects including working with partners, delivering inclusive activities and finding the right format. Browse the toolkits

Contact

Should you require advice on public engagement activities or support with your application, please contact BU’s Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

28 February 2025

Bournemouth University at Dorchester’s Celebration of Science

Genoveva Esteban

BU is a key partner in Dorchester’s annual celebration of science during the British Science Week (7-16 March 2025), significantly contributing to its success and educational impact. The Dorchester Science Festival features diverse scientific events, culminating in the Family Science Day on Sunday, March 16^th, at the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

The university’s involvement brings valuable research expertise and hands-on learning experiences to attendees of the Family Science Day, contributing to the 24 science stalls on offer. BU staff and students actively share their research with children and families, representing various fields including Neuroscience and virtual reality (MINE Research Cluster, Xun He, Fred Charles Charles and Damla Kuleli); Forensic Sciences (Richard Paul and Nikky Jones); Biomedical Sciences (Anna Mantzouratou and Sarah Upson); Biological Sciences (Demetra Andreou); Marine Conservation (Jocelyn Elson-Riggins); Microbial Ecology (Genoveva Esteban).

These presentations offer hands-on activities for visitors of all ages, increasing BU’s visibility in the local community while promoting understanding of scientific issues and encouraging interest in STEM fields. BU’s involvement demonstrates its commitment to widening participation in science and creating positive impact in the community, helping to make the Dorchester Science Festival an engaging and educational event that inspires future generations of scientists and fosters connections between academia and the public.

Professor Genoveva Esteban from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences (SciTech) co-organises the Dorchester Science Festival and the Family Science Day in collaboration with the Town Council and others. The Dorchester Science Festival has been funded by the Royal Society of Biology, the Institute of Physics, Dorchester Town Council, Market Cross UK LTD and the Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

Full programme of events can be found on the Festival’s facebook page. For more info, please contact Genoveva Esteban gesteban@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 February 2025

Explore BU’s Research: Introducing our new Research Café series

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Get inspired at our new Research Café event series – where research comes alive. Ask questions, share ideas, and connect with a community of curious minds.

After more than 12 years, our Café Scientifique series has come to an end. Building on its success, this new series will showcase research from all areas at BU—including arts and humanities, alongside science, health, technology, business, and more.

Meet the Researcher

At each event, you will have the chance to meet the researchers behind the project. Gain insights into their research journey, challenges, and discoveries, and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about their area of expertise.

In the first talk in our new series, Bournemouth University cybersecurity expert Professor Vasilis Katos will explore how we might help to defend our towns and cities from cyber threats.

How can we help protect our towns and cities from cyberattacks?

Smart cities bring together residents, technology and infrastructure, creating a complex system. With the rise in AI-enabled cyberattacks, which can compromise energy or phone networks for example, it’s becoming increasingly clear that ordinary residents need to help protect smart city services from such cyberattacks.

Event Details

BU’s Research Café will be held at Bournemouth University Gateway Building Café

Tuesday 4 March from 6:30-8pm

While the talks start at 6:30pm, the BGB Café will open earlier—arrive from 6pm to grab a drink or a bite to eat before the event begins.

Come for the research, stay for the conversation

If you have any questions about this event, or if you’re interested in getting involved with a future Research Café, please email the Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

14 February 2025

Help us highlight BU’s community and cultural engagement

HEIF, Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Your involvement counts – share details of BU’s social, community and cultural events for the annual Higher Education Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey

BU has to report on a range of knowledge exchange activities for HE-BCI, which is collected by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

It is crucial we provide as full a picture as possible of these activities as Research England uses the HE-BCI data to help allocate the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) each year.

For 2024-25, BU received £549,064.

Data collection period

The SharePoint site collects details about all the social, community and cultural engagement events BU delivers between 1 August 2024 and 31 July 2025.

Information about all events delivered during this period need to be uploaded by Friday 17 October 2025.

Find your faculty table

Please ensure you complete all the columns in the individual table for each faculty, especially Number of Attendees and Academic Staff Time for Delivery.

This year, for the first time, we will not be able to include information uploaded to the public engagement records on BRIAN as these do not provide all the data HESA requires.

If you have added data to BRIAN for the relevant time period, please also upload full details here or we will not be able to include your event in the survey.

Further support

For more guidance on what you must include, please refer to the FAQ section.

If you have any questions about the data collection, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

14 February 2025

Being Human Festival 2025: call for applications now open

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The call for applications for Being Human Festival 2025 is now open

Being Human is the UK’s national festival of the humanities. Each year researchers and staff from universities and research organisations are invited to take part in the national festival by organising a public engagement event or activity, rooted in humanities research.

This year’s festival will take place 6-15 November with the theme ‘Between the Lines’.

Being Human is a place-based festival that emphasises interaction, collaboration and engaging with communities outside higher education. The festival supports innovative, participatory and creative activities that foster genuine, two-way connections with communities.

You can get an idea of what the festival looks like, and the types of activities they support, in the 2024 highlights film, and by reading the 2024 highlights blog.

There are various ways to participate in the festival:

Funded pathway

Festival Event Grants: up to £4,000 to organise a single event or multiple events. Deadline: Thursday 10 April Being Human 2025 – Festival Event Grant – Further Information.pdf

Please note: only applicants from UK Higher Education Institutions and AHRC-recognised IROs are eligible to receive grants.

Unfunded pathway

Festival Event: organise a festival event that does not require funding from Being Human. Deadline: Friday 4 July

Funding details and support available

There is no additional funding available for small expenses, and applicants should seek support from their faculty in the first instance.
The Festival Hub model is not possible this year, as it would require match funding, which we do not have.
If you wish to apply for the £4,000 event grant, you are welcome to do so, but there is no separate funding for other expenses.
BU’s Public Engagement Team can support applicants by helping them plan and design engagement activities to ensure meaningful and effective public interaction.

Further details about how to apply, and answers to some frequently asked questions, are available here.

Apply to Being Human Festival 2025 Webinar

Find out more about applying to the festival at the online information session ‘Applying to Being Human Festival 2025’ taking place on Thursday 27 February 2-3pm. Sign up here.

Training Programme 2025

The full training programme for 2025, has sessions running from February to October. This year’s programme includes new events on engagement and inclusion and creative engagement, alongside sessions on audiences, partnerships, promoting events and delivering events.

The sessions are led by expert facilitators, alongside members of the Being Human Festival team. Training is primarily aimed at those taking part, or thinking of taking part, in Being Human Festival, but will be of interest to those working in public engagement more broadly.

All sessions are free and take place online, but booking is required. Find out more and book individual sessions.

Toolkits

The Public Engagement Toolkits have recently been updated. These downloadable PDF resources cover subjects including working with partners, delivering inclusive activities and finding the right format. Browse the toolkits

Contact

Should you require advice on public engagement activities or support with your application, please contact BU’s Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

13 February 2025

Share your research with a public audience at BU’s new Research Café

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Make an impact: engage the community with your research

Get involved with our new Research Café series—an excellent opportunity to share your research with the public in a relaxed setting. Move away from conventional slide-based presentations and connect with the community in a meaningful way.

After more than 12 years, our Café Scientifique series has come to an end. Building on its success, our new event series will open up to all areas of research. In the first talk in our new series, Bournemouth University cybersecurity expert Professor Vasilis Katos will explore how we might help to defend our towns and cities from attack – Find out more

Our event in May will showcase post-graduate researchers – more information coming soon.

For our upcoming July event, we are especially interested in hearing from arts and humanities researchers.

Why share your research with a public audience?

Sharing your research with members of the public builds understanding, trust, and support. It makes your research more relevant, encourages learning, improves communication, and strengthens the connection between research and society. The questions you receive from attendees may also help you think differently about your own research and even inspire new areas to explore.

Introduction to public engagement and available resources

The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) highlights the value of public involvement in research and provides resources to help researchers engage with the public effectively, making research more impactful and accessible. Learn more about public engagement and access resources here

Can you present your research in a simple and engaging way?

We encourage you to share your research in 10 slides or fewer. The challenge of keeping it brief will help you focus your message and keep your audience engaged. The event format will involve delivering a short talk about your research, followed by a discussion where you can answer questions from a varied audience. We strongly encourage interactive methods to keep your talk engaging.

Event details

Location: BGB Café

Event times: 6:30-8pm. Attendees will be able to arrive from 6pm to purchase drinks and food before the event begins.

We are now inviting expressions of interest for speakers for our event on Tuesday 1 July.

Who can get involved?

This is an excellent training opportunity, especially if you are new to public engagement. The friendly audience and relaxed environment will provide a great setting to build your confidence. Whether you are just starting out, or looking to improve your skills, we welcome academics at all career stages, with a focus on those beginning their public engagement journey. We encourage collaboration between experienced and newer speakers to help provide support and gain a rewarding learning experience.

What support can you expect?

Organised by BU’s Public Engagement with Research team, part of Research Development and Support, the team will support you every step of the way—from brainstorming your ideas, developing interesting and interactive ways to help you connect your research with a public audience, to event set-up and promotion. We will be there on the day to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Evaluating your event

To help you get the most out of this experience, we will also support you in evaluating your event. By gathering feedback from your audience, you will gain valuable insights into how well your research was understood and received, and how you can refine your public speaking and engagement skills for future events.

Ready to get involved?

Complete our expressions of interest form to register your interest.

Please note completing the form does not guarantee a spot. We will reach out to discuss your potential participation.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Public Engagement with Research Team at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

17 January 2025

Get in touch with the public engagement team for support in promoting your event

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

Are you organising a public engagement activity or event that you would like help to promote?

Whether it’s a community event, public lecture, workshop, or any other public engagement activity, the Public Engagement with Research team can assist in promoting your event. Our monthly newsletters and social media channels offer a range of promotional opportunities to help you reach a wider audience and ensure your event is a success.

To be considered for inclusion, your event or activity must be;

Intended for and open to non-academic audiences
Focused on BU research, either solely or as part of a wider programme. Events or activities that do not involve BU research, such as marketing or recruitment events, will not be accepted.
Submitted, at the latest, in the first two weeks of the month preceding the event. For example, an event taking place in June should be submitted via the form any time before 14 May.

Event descriptions may be edited for consistency in style with other content.

Share your upcoming public event or activity

If you have any questions, please contact the team publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

14 January 2025

Opportunity to get involved with the British Science Festival 2025

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

There is one week left to apply to run an event at the British Science Festival 2025!

The British Science Festival will take place in Liverpool from the 10 – 14 September 2025, and will be hosted in partnership by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

The programme showcases cutting-edge science, technology and ideas that challenge, inspire and excite audiences. Each year, thousands of people come together to celebrate the latest developments in research and engage in open discussion about issues affecting our culture and society.

Open Call for proposals – Do you have an idea to engage public audiences with science and research?

Anyone can propose an event and the Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense. The organisers are looking for proposals from individuals, researchers, industry professionals, artists, writers, organisations, charities, academic institutions, and more. They aim to programme a range of formats from talks to drop-in activities and creative content that challenges perceptions of what science is and can be.

The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be appropriate for an adult (16+ audience).

More information, including how to submit a proposal, can be found here

The deadline for proposals is 23.59 20 January 2025.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to discuss your proposal, please email festival@britishscienceassociation.org.

Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your application with BU’s Public Engagement with Research team, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

7 January 2025

British Science Festival 2025 – Call for Event Proposals

Knowledge Exchange, Public engagement ballen

The British Science Festival will take place across the city of Liverpool from the 10 – 14 September 2025, and will be hosted in partnership by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.

Anyone can propose an event. Artists, researchers, community activists, critical thinkers, industry partners, charities and beyond- from across disciplinary backgrounds are invited to submit proposals events, activities or installations.

The British Science Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense. The programme showcases cutting-edge science, technology and ideas that challenge, inspire and excite audiences. Each year, thousands of people come together to celebrate the latest developments in research and to engage in open discussion about issues affecting our culture and society.

While the primary focus is on events programming, the organisers are keen on programming public installations and welcome proposals that could be hosted throughout the festival in site-specific locations like shopping centres, public buildings and town squares.

The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be tailored to an adult (16+) audience.

The target audience for the programme is:

Non-specialist young adults (16-30 years old), particularly from groups underserved and underrepresented in science

Those with broad interest in science but don’t actively seek to engage with it

Those who might not self-identify as interested in science, but who are interested in cultural experiences (e.g., music, technology, films, fashion etc) or have a personal connection to a particular field of science (e.g., gardening, sports, mental health, accessibility technology, etc)

The organisers particularly welcome creative content that challenges perceptions of what science is and can be. They anticipate that the majority of events in the 2025 programme will use a range of participatory formats and take place outside traditional lecture-theatre settings. A limited number of talks and panel discussions will be programmed.

To submit a proposal for an event please complete the proposal form.

The deadline for open call applications is 23.59 on Monday 20 January 2025.

Before developing and submitting your proposal, you are encouraged to read the FAQs

If you have any questions, or if you would like to discuss your proposal, please email festival@britishscienceassociation.org.

Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your application with BU’s Public Engagement with Research team, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.

5 December 2024

Innovation Common Room Festive Gathering

wmorrison

The RKEDF has supported the Innovation Common Room for academics for the last 6 months, and there’s more to come at the ICR for 2025…for our last session for 2024 next week we are adding some festive mince pies to have with your tea or coffee – look forward to seeing you in Fusion FG04 between 1.00-3.30pm on the 11th December!

Because of limited capacity, we are booking online for this session:

Innovation Common Room Christmas Gathering Tickets, Wed 11 Dec 2024 at 01:00 | Eventbrite

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Tagged / knowledge exchange

BU’s Research Café kicks off exploring cybersecurity in smart cities

RDS Academic & Researcher Induction – Weds 23rd April, 10:00 – 11:00, online

Develop your public engagement skills in a friendly environment!

Why Participate?

What to Expect:

How to Get Involved

Apply Now

What Previous Participants Had to Say

Contact Us

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