BU Research Blog

Do you have an idea to engage public audiences with science and research?

The British Science Festival are now accepting event proposals for the 2022 Festival in Leicester, hosted by De Montfort University. 

Proposals are welcome from individuals, researchers, industry professionals, artists, writers, organisations, charities, academic institutions, and more. Festival proposals should be aimed at non-specialist adults (16+) with a broad interest in science.

Festival organisers are looking for events that showcase cutting-edge science, celebrate the latest developments in science and technology and engage their audience in open discussion about relevant issues that affect culture and society. 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.

Highlights from the 2021 Festival can be found here

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

The deadline for proposals is 5pm on Monday 14 February 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact Anna Woolman anna.woolman@BRITISHSCIENCEASSOCIATION.ORG 

Alternatively, please contact Adam Morris (BU Engagement Officer) if you would like advice on planning or submitting your proposal publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk

Why is evaluation important in public engagement? And how do you do it effectively?

We are delighted to have teamed up with the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE), who will deliver this bespoke session for BU researchers.

This interactive course will encourage participants to think about why evaluation is important, look at ways to get started, explore different techniques they can use, and consider what findings can tell the participant and their organisation or funder. With an emphasis on how to conduct evaluation, participating in practical activities and discussion as together the workshop facilitators and attendees will demystify evaluation and find the fun in revealing and identifying participants’ effectiveness.

These sessions are aimed at people with experience of public engagement with research; however, the session will be open to all experience levels.

Learning objectives:

• To develop an awareness of the value and importance of evaluating public engagement.
• To gain familiarity with the process of evaluation and the usefulness of planning.
• To consider the uses of evaluation including improving activities; sharing good practice and reporting.
• To begin to explore the issues and challenges of evaluating public engagement.

By the end of this session, you will:

• Have a greater understanding and awareness of the importance of evaluating public engagement
• Understand the processes of evaluation and how to plan for it.

It is a condition of booking that the attendee agrees that their contact email will be shared with the NCCPE for the purposes of programme administration.

 To book a place on this workshop please complete the booking form.

For any queries, please contact Organisational Development. 

This is a brand new session for 2021-22 – providing an introduction to what is involved when developing mutually beneficial research partnerships with communities. It will also help you decide whether it is the favoured approach for you and your community partners.

The session will be delivered by the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement and is aimed at those working in universities who want to know more about community engagement and are interested in the potential of applying a community-engaged research approach.

Learning objectives:

• Consider your knowledge and understanding of community engagement and community engaged research
• Explore the continuum of collaborative research with communities
• Think about what helps to build strong community engagement and enhance your skills by experimenting with these ideas
• Reflect on how community engagement relates to your own work and roles.

By the end of this session, you will:

• Understand how community engagement works
• Be aware of how community engagement relates to your own work
• Have an understanding of what makes strong community engagement

To book a place on this workshop please complete the booking form.

For any queries, please contact Organisational Development.

Call for speakers at Soapbox Science Brighton 2022 now open.

What is Soapbox Science?

Soapbox Science is a fun and engaging way of communicating your research and raising the profile of female, non-binary and gender queer scientists. The aim of Soapbox Science is to promote female and gender diverse scientists and the work they do, challenging stereotypes of who can be a scientist.

Events

Soapbox Science events transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate; they follow the format of London Hyde Park’s Speaker’s Corner, which is historically an arena for public debate.

Learn, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by some of our leading scientists. No middle person, no PowerPoint slides, no amphitheatre – just remarkable women and non-binary scientists sharing their latest discoveries, and answering the science questions you have been burning to ask.

Open Call

The call for speakers is open to female, non-binary and gender queer STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) researchers and entrepreneurs from PhD to Professor.

Funding for travel is provided. The organisers will provide all speakers with training in public speaking and science communication, as well as supporting you to think creatively about how to communicate your research in the most engaging way.

The event will be held on Brighton Seafront on Saturday 21 May 2022

Apply here

Deadline for applications: Monday 28 February 2022

If you have any questions, please contact soapboxscience@gmail.com

Alternatively, please contact Adam Morris (BU Engagement Officer) if you would like advice on planning or submitting your application: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk