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Public engagement opportunities for MRC research students/scientists

A range of activities, schemes and programmes for scientists to develop and use their public engagement and communication skills.

Encouraging public engagement and dialogue on the research that we fund is an important part of the MRC’s mission. The schemes and activities below provide tailor-made opportunities for MRC scientists to meet their commitment to public engagement. These complement local and regional activities.

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Beacons for Public Engagement

Beacons for Public Engagement are university-based collaborative centres to help support, recognise, reward and build capacity for public engagement work across the UK. Together with our partners, the UK funding councils and the Wellcome Trust, we are investing £9.2 million into this initiative in order to support a step-change in recognition for public engagement across the higher education sector. There are six Beacons around the UK, and one National Co-coordinating Centre.

More information: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/

 

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British Science Association Media Fellowships

Open to UK scientists with a minimum of two years’ post graduate experience

An opportunity to experience first hand how science is reported in the media by spending three to eight weeks on a summer placement gaining experience of working within a media organisation. Previous fellows have undertaken placements at the Guardian, the Telegraph and the BBC.

 

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British Science Festival Award Lectures

Each year the British Science Association gives five outstanding young communicators the opportunity to present a prestigious award lecture at the British Science Festival.

The award lectures honour professional scientists or engineers in the early stages of their career, who show outstanding skills in communication to a non-specialist audience.

 

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EMBO Award for Communication in the Life Sciences

Closing date: June annually

Open to all practicing life scientists working in Europe

The annual EMBO Award highlights the exceptional efforts made by scientists to combine science communication activities with a full-time research career, and is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to public understanding of science.

 

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Fame Lab

Open to all who are over 21 and working in/studying science

NESTA FameLab is a national competition to find the new voices of UK science and engineering. Prizes include a residential weekend master class in science communication and the winner will receive £10,000 and two ‘3 Minute Wonder’ Channel 4 TV appearances. The UK Final is held at the Cheltenham Science Festival in June.

Regional heats take place in various locations throughout April and May.

 

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L'Oreal UK Fellowships for Women in Science

Open to female scientists in the UK who hold a PhD awarded within the last 10 years

The L’Oreal UK Fellowships for Women in Science are organised in partnership with the Royal Institution of Great Britain and UNESCO. Three Fellowships of £10,000 each are awarded each year, designed to celebrate and support the contribution of UK women researchers in the life- and physical sciences.

 

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MRC Max Perutz Science Writing Prize

Closing date: May annually

Open to all MRC-funded PhD students

An annual competition exclusively for MRC PhD students who are asked to write - in around 800 words – an article describing their research and why it’s important. A top prize of up to £1000 will be awarded at a ceremony in Central London.

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National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement

 

A website for university students and staff who are interested in learning more about public engagement and running events 

 

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NC3Rs/New Scientist ‘Beyond animal research’ essay competition

Anyone is invited to apply but entries are particularly encouraged from undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral scientists and science communicators.

Let your imagination run wild to think about novel ways to replace or reduce animals in research. Entrants are asked to submit a 650 word article which envisages how advances in technology – such as stem cells, tissue engineering or computer modelling - could end the need for animal research.

 

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Nuffield Bursaries

Closing date: May annually

Open to anyone working at a UK university or an academic or publicly funded research institute.

A scheme funded by the research councils that takes the legwork out of offering work experience and other school/college placements to students studying an Advanced or Higher science course.

 

 

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Royal Society MP/Scientist Pairing Scheme

Open to all scientists at post-doctoral level and above

An opportunity for scientists to learn first hand how science is dealt with in Parliament. The scheme involves the scientist spending a week in Westminster, going on reciprocal visits with their MP, and attending meetings on local issues. In return, the parliamentarian will be invited to visit the research facilities/organisation where the scientist is based.

 

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STEM Ambassadors Scheme

Open to anyone with an interest in informing young people about the science and technology around them

A programme which enables schools to have access to volunteers with science, technology, engineering and maths skills. The participant can be employed in a variety of occupations at all levels and will assist teachers either by giving talks or through helping to set up and run experiments, project work, or out of school activities such as after school clubs.

 

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Science Festivals

Open to all MRC Scientists

Annual events in which the MRC participates are listed below. MRC-supported scientists are invited to take part and get involved, and should contact their Regional Communications Manager in the first instance for more information.

 

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Sense about Science - Voice of Young Science network

Open to researchers, scientists, medics and engineers in the early stages of their career

 

The Voice of Young Science (VoYS) network helps young scientists to get actively involved in public debates about science, particularly on contentious subjects. VoYS runs workshops throughout the year for early career scientists and engineers who are passionate about science and want to communicate research to a wider audience. They combine discussion about science-related controversies in media reporting with practical guidance to help younger scientists make a greater contribution to public debates.

 

More information: www.senseaboutscience.org/VoYS. Click here for an account of a previous workshop from MRC-funded postdoctoral researcher, Dr Rishma Vidyasagar.

 

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The Royal Society Pairing Scheme for MPs, civil servants and scientists

The Royal Society is looking for scientists to take part in this scheme

The MP Scientist pairing scheme was set up in 2001 to help build bridges between parliamentarians and some of the best science research workers in the UK. It has since expanded to include civil servants. The scheme gives research scientists valuable insight into political decision making and its associated pressures.

 

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The Understanding Animal Research school speaker programme

Open to: anyone who works with research animals who would be willing to spend an hour in a classroom talking about what they do and why.

 

Why do we use animals in medical research? Why not use people instead? Isn’t it true that animals are too unlike humans to provide good scientific data?

 

The answers to questions like these may seem obvious to researchers and technicians who work with animals, but for thousands of children in schools across the UK the facts are far from clear, and it is not always easy to separate the truths from the half-truths, the science from the misinformation.

 

The Understanding Animal Research school speaker programme aims to bridge this knowledge gap by arranging for volunteers with first-hand experience of animal models to speak to secondary school science classes about their work. The programme provides training to prepare for school speaking, as well as advice, support and the opportunity to visit schools and see how it is done.

 

Trained speakers are already raising awareness and understanding in hundreds of schools with fantastic results, but there is still much to do.

 

For more information visit: Understanding Animal Research or email Jess at education@uar.org.uk

 

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Biomedical Society Centenary Science Communication Competition

Open to all undergraduates and postgraduate students

 

The Biochemical Society is celebrating its Centenary throughout 2011. As part of our celebratory activities we are running a science communication competition for undergraduates and postgraduate students. To enter students must submit an original piece of writing on a molecular bioscience topic of their choice, aimed at the general public. The winning article will be published in our members’ magazine ‘The Biochemist’ and on the Biochemical Society website. Cash prizes (1st prize: £500; 2nd Prize £250; 3rd prize £100) and certificates will also be awarded at a prize-giving event in London.

 

For more information on the criteria, prizes and details of how to enter, please visit: www.biochemistry.org/sciencecommunication

 

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