October 2020

Hello Bristol Public Engagement Network and welcome to the October edition of Connect. Get in touch to talk to us, visit our website for more information and follow us on Twitter for the very latest news!
 
COVID-19 update
In accordance with government guidelines, the Public Engagement team are still working from home but we are open for business and are continuing to support our individual academic colleagues and Faculties. We will keep you updated on any developments.
We want to support engagement with research in new, creative ways during this period of working differently – do get in touch to discuss with us.
 
Updates on the university-wide response to Covid-19 can be found on the University website.
 
Please note, the opportunities and dates listed below are correct at the time of the publication of this newsletter but in the current climate we recommend checking the linked webpages for any updates.

Take care, 
The Public Engagement team

Join a webinar on 10 November from the University of Bristol Iftiin project, exploring the way that school students’ experiences of racism can impact their educational aspirations, with presentations from local schools. Part of Thinking Futures, organised by the Public Engagement team for the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2020. Book your place here.

Watch Bristol Festival of Ideas events including a talk on 21 October from University of Bristol researcher Professor Olivette Otele. Based on the research for her book African Europeans, Olivette will trace a long African European heritage through the lives of individuals both ordinary and extraordinary. Find out more.

Attend Black History Month 2020 events in October. Organised by the student BME Network in collaboration with the Bristol SU events team and BME Success Programme. Full programme here.
 
Participate in events 12 to 22 November as part of Being Human, the festival of the humanities. These are organised by 81 universities and research organisations in partnership with artists and performers, museums and heritage sites and community groups and charities. Full programme here.
 
Get a free ticket to Communicate, 26-27 November. An annual environmental conference bringing together a diverse group of delegates each year to develop their skills, share best practice and debate latest issues in science communication, nature conservation and engaging people with the natural world. Sign up here using your UoB email address.  
 
Take part in Culture, Creativity and Health: Winter Gatherings, 16 – 20 November 2020, a weeklong selection of virtual regional events and webinars. Hosted by the Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance and Arts & Health South West. Programme here.
 
Attend Bristol’s Technology Festival, 9-15 November. Be one of the 5000+ attendees across our events. Meet, connect, share and expand your network. More info here.
 
Book upcoming training from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement. For those looking to skill up in the new academic year, our courses cover a range of topics including community engagement, evaluation and meaningful online engagement. Book here.

Get involved in the University’s biggest public engagement event of the year. You can still register to take part in FUTURES to celebrate European Researchers’ Night on 27-28 November. Email the FUTURES team asap to take part. And keep an eye on the website for the full programme very soon!
 
Help students stay connected with STEM, their teachers, and classmates with I’m an Engineer, Get me out of here. The next activity for space engineers is running 2 to 27 November. Apply here.
 
Are you working with schools on inspiring young people with STEM? Explore the CREST resources and opportunities (including for engaging underrepresented audiences).

Schools and community groups can apply for grants to take part in British Science Week 2021 (5-14 March 2021). Deadline 9 November. Apply here.
 
Applications for Caird Fellowship at Royal Museums Greenwich are open (deadline 2 November). This supports high-quality research providing new perspectives on their collections. Apply here.
 
A reminder that you can also help record responses to Covid-19. The university are documenting how colleagues are responding to the pandemic, through research, engagement and partnership working. Please email community@bristol.ac.uk to record the great work you’re doing to help deal with the virus. Read more about the university’s research-related response.
 
 
Funding calls with deadlines soon!
 
The University of Bristol Temple Quarter Engagement Fund is now open for application with a deadline of 6 November. We are encouraging proposals that focus on the city’s aspirations to build back better from COVID-19; however we would welcome proposals that meet our civic criteria even if they do not focus on this area. Grants are available between £3,000 and £10,000. Please discuss your ideas with the Public Engagement team before applying.
 
£5,000 - Engineering Education Grant Scheme (19 October)
£15,000 – STFC’s Public Engagement Spark Awards (22 October)
£30,000 - NERC grant for researchers working in, on or with Wales (29 October)
£2,000 - Hellenic Society Council (to organise a conference on Hellenic Studies involving local schools and/or the community) (1 November)
£5,000 - Royal Society of Chemistry (16 November)
£8,000 - London Mathematical Society, Education grant (30 November)
 
Looking further ahead
£100,000 - STFC’s Public Engagement Nucleus Awards (14 January 2021)
 

Using the latest peer-reviewed studies in psychology and neuroscience, The Happiness Half Hour gives listeners an evidence-based path to happiness – over 10 weekly episodes.

The Science of Happiness is the first university course of its kind in the UK, launched in 2018 by Professor and Developmental Psychologist, Bruce Hood. It has been a proven success, with hundreds of students taking the course and reporting a significant increase in their wellbeing and a decrease in feelings of loneliness. Find out more in this blog.