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External opportunities

The Faculty Public Engagement team also signpost to external opportunities for PE activity. Please also check out the Festivals webpages, to find out more about running a stand at a festival, and what opportunities are coming up this year.

For the most up to date information, please join the Teams site. As always, please reach out to us on HLSengagement@liverpool.ac.uk if you take part at these events. We would love to know.

 

The Being Human Festival 2026 - Applications open until 16 April

 

The Being Human Festival 2026 will take place from 5 - 14 November with the theme Crossroads. 

Each year researchers and staff from universities and research organisations are invited to apply to take part in the festival by organising a public engagement event, activity or project

If you have any questions about our application processes, or any general questions about the festival, please email  beinghuman@sas.ac.uk. or get in touch with the Faculty Public Engagement team at HLSengagement@liverpool.ac.uk.

 

Two Funded pathways

There are two types of grants to enable events and activities to take place as part of the festival. 

 

Institutional Grants

Institutional Grants offer £4,000–£8,000 to coordinate and deliver a Festival Hub

Please apply online. Deadline: Thursday 16 April, 5pm

 

Festival Event Grants

In addition, Festival Event grants offer up to £4,000 to run a single event or multiple events as part of the festival

Please apply online  Deadline: Thursday 16 April, 5pm.

 

Online application process

All applications must be submitted via the online system. Please follow the step-by-step instructions below for information on how to set up your account and submit an application.

Application form templates and guidance are provided to assist with preparing answers for submitting online. 

Training is also available to help you apply to the Being Human Festival 2026 and through all aspects of public engagement activity. 

If you have an idea you'd like to discuss for running an event at the festival, get in touch with the Faculty Public Engagement team at HLSEngagement@liverpool.ac.uk.

 

British Science Festival 2026

Every year the British Science Association asks for applications for the seven Award Lectureships available to early career academics who are skilled at engaging people with their research. These Award Lectures aim to promote open and informed discussion of science and related disciplines. Awards are available in seven different areas:

•    Social sciences
•    Engineering, technology and industry  
•    Environmental sciences
•    Agricultural, biological and medical sciences
•    Physical sciences and mathematics  
•    Digital innovation
•    Science and the arts.

The call for 2026 has now closed however more information, including the application process can be found here, or you can contact Louise at louise.cooke@britishscienceassociation.org with any questions.

 

The annual Dance Your Ph.D. contest 2026

The party is just getting started when the dreaded question comes: “So, what’s your Ph.D. research about?” You launch into the explanation, trying to judge the level of interest as you go deeper. It takes about a minute before someone changes the subject.

At times like this, don’t you wish you lived in a world where you could just ask people to pull out their phones to watch an online video explaining your Ph.D. research through interpretive dance?

You do live in that world! Not only can you have such a video, you can win vast sums of money (OK, modest amounts), achieve geek fame on the internet, and be recognized by Science for your effort.  The 2026 competition has now closed but you can find out more in the FAQ's here.  

 

STEM For BRITAIN 2026

An annual scientific poster competition for early-career researchers which has been held in Parliament since 1997, and is organised by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. Its aim is to give members of both Houses of Parliament an insight into the outstanding research work being undertaken in the UK by early-career researchers. Applications for 2026 are now closed however you can find out more about the competition on their website.

 

Westminster pairing scheme 2026

Engaging with policymakers as a researcher in Health and Life Sciences provides an avenue to bridge the gap between research and policy, ultimately contributing to the improvement of public health and the well-being of communities.

Each year 30 research scientists are paired with UK parliamentarians and civil servants. Over the ‘Week in Westminster’ the scientists will take part in workshops, hear from invited speakers and spend time with their pair. The MP, Peer or Civil Servant will then be invited to visit the scientist’s home institution and learn more about their work in person. Those taking part gain an insight into how research findings can help inform policy making, and come away with a better understanding of how they can get involved. Applications for 2026 are now closed. Find out more about the competition on their website. 

 

Brilliant poetry 2026

Brilliant Poetry is an international competition that invites people from around the world to express scientific wonder and discovery through verse. Brilliant Poetry champions the power of poetry to make the complex and often abstract world of scientific inquiry accessible and captivating to all.

Your poem should be concise yet impactful, with a limit of 40 lines. This encourages creativity and precision in expressing big ideas. Applications for 2026 have now closed

 

Chester Festival of Ideas - 2026

The Festival of Ideas is a programme of free, inclusive and accessible public events on a wide range of themes in and around Chester, co-created by the University of Chester and external stakeholders and city partners. These events may include; speakers, discussion panels, theatre, pop-up exhibitions, interactive events, music, readings, guided walks and many more.  Applications to take part in the festival have now closed. The festival will take place on 2 – 5 July 2026.  Get a taste of what the festival is all about here.