Science
General
Science & Technology Facilities Council - Large Award Scheme
From £10,000 up to £100,000. Open to all but should have strong links with the STFC scientific research community. Grants are for projects which are expected to have a significant regional or national impact. Closing date for 2010 Large Awards yet to be announced.
DIUS - Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre Project Grant
The Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre projects are commissioned directly with policy makers in line with priority areas for engagement in science and technology. Funding can be given to Government departments, agencies and Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies (providing there is support from a central Government department). Funding is given for projects that carry out public dialogue to inform national science and technology policy making. Sciencewise grants are given on a co-funding basis - typically, 50% of the total project costs are expected to be provided by the Commissioning Department and other stakeholders as appropriate.
Biomedical Sciences
Wellcome Trust, Broadcast Development Awards
Awards of up to £10 000 for a maximum of one year are available for established broadcast professionals and others in the UK and Republic of Ireland with a strong vision for a broadcast project that engages audiences with issues around biomedical science in an innovative, entertaining and accessible way. Forthcoming deadlines are 30 July 2010 and 4 October 2010. Decisions will be made approximately two months after the relevant deadline.
Funds are up to £30 000 for a maximum of three years. Open to a wide range of people from the UK and Republic of Ireland. The Award supports projects that covers one or more specific criteria (outlined on their website) centred around biomedical science and its social contexts for various activities such as debates, drama productions etc. Forthcoming deadlines are 30 July 2010 and 29 October 2010. . Decisions will be made approximately three months after the relevant deadline.
Please refer to the Wellcome Trust Society Awards for projects of a similar nature with budgets over £30,000. Preliminary proposals on the theme of “GREY MATTERS: Brain, Mind & Culture” can be submitted up to 12 October 2010.
Wellcome Trust, International Engagement Awards
Up to £30 000 for a maximum of three years for projects . Open to people from listed developing countries (see Wellcome Trust website) or those in the UK working with partners in those developing countries to meet one or more of 5 criteria set by Wellcome, focusing on health research and include participants or engage audiences located in developing countries. Deadline: 29 October 2010 (Preliminary expressions of interest should be sent by 17 September 2010).
BBSRC Public Engagement Awards -
An annual competition, offering funds of up to £5000 to support BBSRC-funded researchers, institutes of BBSRC, and BBSRC local coordinators to undertake public engagement activities. We welcome applications to repeat previously successful activities as well as applications for new activities. Priority will be given to applications that focus on dialogue with public groups, particularly adults and hard-to-reach groups such as ethnic minorities, inner city communities or those with special needs. Application deadline TBC
Science and Engineering
Partnership for public engagement award - EPSRC
Provides opportunities for active EPSRC researchers to undertake public engagement projects related to their research interests. The Award exists to promote applied research and create dialogue around science and engineering with the public that covers a range of issues and includes sustainable energy, nanotechnologies, information and communications technologies, and engineering that relates to today's society. It offers Starter grants (up to £20,000) for researchers with limited public engagement experience and Main grants (of any value) to those with greater experience. Calls for Starter grants are issued 3 to 4 times a year. The next call will be issued in Autumn.
Holmes Hines memorial fund - EPSRC
Small awards (no value specified) are available to help individuals or organisations (teachers or students) with activities related to science and engineering for which public funds are not available. Applications can be in any area of science or engineering. Applications welcome all year round.
Public communication training - EPSRC
Funding provides the opportunity for specialist training e.g. skills needed for addressing public audiences, writing press releases, etc. The EPSRC website offers guidance on appropriate courses. Anyone on a research team (from principal investigator to graduate student) can receive the training when applying for EPSRC research grants. To apply, researchers should include a sum for public communications training within their original project proposal. Deadline aligned to relevant EPSRC grants.
Funding and Grants - Funding - The Royal Society
The scheme offers up to £3,000 to support teachers, scientists and engineers to bring science alive and inspire young people in primary and secondary schools across the UK. Projects must involve a teacher and a practising UK scientist/engineer. Grants are awarded to the school.
Senior media fellowships - EPSRC
Applicants for Senior Media Fellowships should have a strong background in EPSRC-supported research together with exceptional abilities in communicating science to the public via the popular media. Fellows are expected to act as high profile 'champions' using media opportunities to convey advances in their field in ways accessible to the public and the value of research to society, and to explain or debate issues arising from research in their area. Typically, fellowships can last from 6 months to 3 years, either full or part time. To apply contact Joanna Coleman 01793 444209.
Chemical Sciences
Royal Society of Chemistry, Public Activities Grants Schemes
There are two categories of grants available: 1. Small grants, up to £250, to support activities requiring small amounts of money and that are not funded elsewhere in the RSC, and 2. Large grants (maximum of 3 awards per year), between £500 and £5000, towards major events that support the development of activities to promote chemistry. Open primarily to RSC members and member groups to support activities promoting the public awareness of chemistry and the chemical sciences. Applications are accepted all year round but funds will be awarded on a first come, first served basis from January to December.
Royal Society for Chemistry, Lecture/Event Grants and Special Grants
The RSC awards grants of up to £100 per academic year to help Student Chemical Societies stage an "RSC" lecture/event that will benefit/promote chemistry and/or promote the RSC and the Student Chemical Society and help recruit new members. Student Chemical Societies can also bid for extra grants of up to £500 to stage a larger event/lecture. Applications are accepted all year round.
Royal Society for Chemistry, Education Initiatives Fund
This fund provides small amounts of financial support for novel educational activities aimed at school and college aged students, with age appropriate chemical science content that is new to the geographical region. As the fund is relatively small, the selection committee look favourably on requests for funding up to about £1000 but generally not beyond this figure. The funding year runs between 1st January to 31st December and applicants must apply in writing to the RSC Schools and Colleges Specialist by 31st October 2010.
Environmental Sciences
Black Environment Network, The Ethnic Minorities Award Scheme for Environmental Projects
Small grants of up to £500 are available to schools, community groups and individuals undertaking projects which concern the environment and involve people from ethnic communities. Grants are for innovative projects which do not fit into the grant categories of other larger environmental grant schemes. EMAS also provides an advice and funding referral service for projects needing over £500 or for those which can access funds from larger existing grant schemes. No deadline.
The Connect A scheme facilitates and promotes new partnerships between universities and research institutes and public/private sector science users (industry, business, commerce or public sector agencies). The funds are for planning and initiating collaborative research not eligible for funding through other schemes (LINK, KTP, CASE or contract research). Awards are made up to £4 000 for the total directly incurred costs per application. The call is open to applicants based in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), NERC Research and Collaborative Centres and recognised academic analogues. Deadline: continuous
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences
BBSRC Public Engagement awards
An annual funding competition offering funds of up to £5,000 to undertake public engagement activities. For BBSRC-funded researchers, institutes of BBSRC, and BBSRC local coordinators. Priority will be given to applications that focus on dialogue with public groups, particularly adults and hard-to-reach groups such as ethnic minorities, inner city communities or those with special needs. Next application deadline – TBA.
Funded by the UK Higher Education Funding Councils, Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust. About our funders