Two Fellows or Lecturers can join the University’s Festival of Social Sciences (FoSS) Steering Group, funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Programme and led by the Public Engagement Unit, for up to two years.
There is an opportunity for two Fellows or Lecturers from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) and/or the School of Management (SoM) to serve on the University’s Festival of Social Sciences Steering Group for up to two years.
This will involve working with senior faculty and school colleagues and professional service specialists to oversee the planning and delivery of the two-week festival in the autumn of each year.
As one of the ESRC’s ‘festival partners’, the University aims to promote and encourage non-academic engagement in social sciences research, highlighting the contribution that the University makes to society and the economy locally, regionally and nationally.
The theme for the 2026 Festival of Social Sciences is ‘money, finance and the cost of living’.
Purpose of the role
- Contribute engagement ideas to the group
- Oversee the planning and operations of the festival
- Promote opportunities and events to colleagues and partners
You will gain experience of sitting on a cross-institution steering group as well as building knowledge of public engagement event planning to accelerate research impact.
The roles would suit candidates with an interest in public engagement, knowledge exchange (KE) and research impact. It may also be of particular interest to ECR staff who have had involvement in these types of funded projects at the University.
Expectations of the role
As an active member of the Festival of Social Sciences steering group you will:
- attend 6 meetings per year (approx. 1 hour each, with up to 1 hour preparation time), where possible, and occasional extraordinary meetings or related activities, as needed;
- contribute to discussion and decision-making about festival funding, activities and promotion and identify opportunities to innovate and improve;
- promote activities and opportunities to colleagues and partners, acting as an advocate for the festival and its aims.
How to apply
Please submit your response to the following questions in the body of an email to impact-acceleration@bath.ac.uk by the deadline of Monday 8 June 2025, 5pm:
- How might membership of the Steering Group benefit your personal or professional development? (100 words max.)
- What can you bring to the role – for example, experience of public engagement, KE and research impact or other relevant experience which might be beneficial? (100 words max.)
We will aim to be in touch with a decision by Monday 15 June 2025.