In order to undertake truly impactful research, there is a need for relevant PE activities. There is often the opportunity to cost in PE activities when applying for a research grant, so please make full use of the funding available to you. The Faculty of Health and Life Sciences also offers various internal funding opportunities.
Internal funding
ESRC Festival of Social Sciences 2024
As part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Impact Acceleration Award (IAA), the University of Liverpool is participating in the UK-wide Festival of Social Science (FoSS) to engage and connect the public with social, economic and behavioural science research through a series of events from 19 October – 9 November, 2024. Read more about last years’ events here.
The University’s FoSS Planning Team would like to hear from anyone that has an idea to run their own event or activity. These events must take place within the festival time period but may take place anywhere e.g. off campus or online.
We expect to fund projects between £200 to £2000 but supplementary funding may be available where there is a strong case for more ambitious projects. We also welcome pre-arranged events that are relevant and wish to be included within the festival programme and promotion.
The events can be suitable for various audiences, including the public, youth or non-academic groups (including non-Higher Education professionals). They can be based on any topic relating to the economic and social science remit but we particularly welcome proposals that fit this year’s festival theme ‘Our Digital Lives’.
Proposals around this theme can focus on any aspect of the relationship between humans and digital technology. This could include (but is not limited to):
- Specific opportunities, benefits or threats to society, particular groups, or individuals from digital technologies and how we can take advantage of or tackle these.
- Teaching and developing digital skills for different groups and at different stages of life (for example in school, in the workplace, for older people)
- What life might look like in the future as a result of technological developments and how we feel about this.
The same opportunity will be available in 2025, 2026 and 2027. We welcome expressions of interest for multi-year event/projects or plans for future years, which could present an exciting opportunity for increased impact development.
All details and documents may be found on the festival webpage
Please return completed Expressions of Interest to Stephanie Hayton via shayton@liverpool.ac.uk by 5pm Monday 10th June.
It is encouraged that those interested in proposing an event book to attend a Public Engagement Clinic session with Dr Stephanie Hayton, University Public Engagement Officer, in the first instance. You can find more information and contacts details here.
Colleagues in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences can contact The HLS Public Engagement Team for support at HLSEngagement@liverpool.ac.uk. For other queries please email: IAA@liverpool.ac.uk
External funding
One of the best approaches to secure funding for public engagement activities is by requesting funds when writing research grant applications.
The UK Research Councils now ask you to supply a ‘Pathways to Impact’ statement, which can be fully economically costed into your research grant. The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement website is the best place to search for public engagement grant funding.
They have details of a wide range of funding opportunities. The Faculty Public Engagement team would like to hear of any public engagement activity within the faculty so please get in touch with us about any relevant activity at HLSengagement@liverpool.ac.uk.
There are also various other external funders that award grants for PE activity:
Alzheimer's Research UK, Inspire Fund
The Inspire Fund provides up to £25,000 funding for innovative projects that engage the public with dementia and the life-changing research going on into the condition.
Biochemical Society, Scientific Outreach Grants
The Society wishes to support scientific outreach activities that communicates the excitement of molecular bioscience to young people and the community. Applications are invited for up to £1000 to assist with the direct costs associated with an event and expenses incurred (e.g. transport and teacher cover).
British Society of Immunology, Communicating Immunology Grants
The aims of the Grants are to stimulate interest, discussion and understanding of immunology amongst a wider audience, support formal and informal learning about immunology and target a wide range of audiences. Multiple deadlines throughout the year.
The Ideas Fund
The Ideas Fund is a grants programme run by the British Science Association and funded by Wellcome, which enables the UK public to develop and try out ideas that address problems related to mental wellbeing by working with researchers. Rather than a full application, they request Expressions of Interest (EOI) from both community groups and researchers.
Medical Research Foundation (MRC): Changing Policy and Practice Award
Supports the dissemination of MRC and Foundation-funded research results beyond the scientific peer reviewed press, to patients, participants, practitioners and policy makers. Applicants may apply for up to £30,000 over a flexible time period, typically across one year.
Microbiology Society, Education and Outreach Grants
Grants of up to £1,000 are available to support relevant science teaching or promotion initiatives, or to support developments likely to lead to an improvement in the teaching of any aspect of microbiology. These funding cycles are run twice per year.
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Programme Development Grants
This new NIHR funding call aims to improve health and care in the community, through supporting innovative and inclusive ways of partnership working between researchers, people and communities, and other key stakeholders.
Physiological Society Institutional Engagement Award
Up to £500 funding available to support Society Representatives and members to co-host events at their organisation, including internal conferences, teaching symposia, seminars or outreach events.
The Society for Experimental Biology Outreach Grant
The Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) aims to empower members to contribute to the public understanding of science, and to promote engagement with all forms of experimental biology. The Outreach and Engagement Grant provides funding to support outreach events and activities that will reach a variety of public audiences. Members can apply for up to £1000, and non-members £200, to cover the costs associated with holding or participating in an outreach event or activity. There are two application deadlines per year: 1st June and 1st October.
Society for Endocrinology, Public Engagement Grant
Up to £1000 is available to support organisation and delivery of outreach activities, aimed at school children and/or the general public. Application deadline: 20th September 2023.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Community Research Networks
Funding from UKRI, supported by The Young Foundation, to develop and sustain Community Research Networks, designed by community groups and partnerships that exist outside the current research and innovation system.
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