Public Engagement Unit

We facilitate public engagement for our research students and staff to build links with the public.

Public engagement with research

Find out more about what public engagement is, why it matters, how it can benefit you and your research and how to start engaging public groups with your research.

Public engagement at Bath

A presenter talking about public engagement in front of an audience seated at tables

How we define public engagement with research, our approach and how support staff to engage public groups with their work.

Why public engagement matters

A participant seated around a table talking to others in their group during a training session

Find out about the benefits of public engagement to you, your research and public groups outside the University.

Engaging public groups with your research

A researcher engaging people around a table with a board game he made about his research

A quick-start how-to guide to engaging public groups with your research.

The Public Engagement Unit during the coronavirus outbreak

The team at the Public Engagement Unit are currently working from home, but we're open for business continuing to support our academic and professional services colleagues.

You can reach us via our Public Engagement Mailbox.

Find out more about changes to our service

A researcher engaging two public participants during a science festival

Funding for public engagement

If you have an idea for a public engagement with research activity these funding calls could help make it happen. Find out more about the current funding opportunities available from the Public Engagement Unit and other funding organisations.

Get involved in the Being Human Festival 2020

Two female participants standing in an art installation

Calls are open for activities and funding opportunities, (£2,000-£5,000) to participate in the Being Human Festival. Deadlines 24 April and 12 June 2020.

Biochemical Society Outreach Grants

A workshop funded by the Scientific Outreach Grants

Grants of up to £1000 are available to support activities that communicate molecular bioscience to young people and the community. Deadline 16 April.

London Mathematical Society Education Grants

Two young children talking to a mathematician at a science festival

Grants of £600 - £800 to stimulate interest and enable involvement in mathematics. Deadline: 30 April.

Physiology Society Outreach Grants

Four female students standing together with equipment

The Physiology Society is offering funds for activities that increase understanding of physiology. Deadline: all year (under £500).

Apply for an Engage Grant

We have two funds currently open:

Start-Up (for projects up to £200). Open call until July 2020.
Initiator (for projects up to £500). Deadline - Thursday 9 April 2020.

Find out more about the Engage Grants

Researcher talking to visitors to the Holburne Museum about his research

Public engagement training and learning opportunities

Develop your public engagement knowledge and skills with these training opportunities and learning resources from the Public Engagement Unit and other organisations.

Knowledge Exchange and the Creative Industries Seminar Series

Wednesdays (2-3pm) monthly from 6 November 2019 to 22 April 2020, Senate House, University of Bristol, Bristol

Royal Institution Masterclass Speaker Training

Training is available for those who who would like to deliver STEM workshops for young people as part of the Royal Institution programme. 7 March and 25 April

STEAM Summer School

STEAM is an innovative course in science communication, building on traditional methods by combining STEM with the Arts. Early bird deadline: 31 May.

Science Filmmaking Courses

Taught by an ex-BBC science documentary filmmaker, these courses give you the skills to make and promote engaging films about research. March and October.

Engagement opportunities

Put your public engagement skills into practice with these engagement opportunities run by the Public Engagement Unit and other organisations.

Enter the Bristol Science Film Competition

Two filmmakers looking at an object in the distance

The 2020 Bristol Science Film Competition is now open for filmmakers, regardless of experience on any science fact or fiction theme. Deadline 1 May 2020.

Celebrating your public engagement achievements

If you're looking for recognition for your public engagement work, check out the award schemes run by the Public Engagement Unit and other organisations.

The Josh Award

Winner of the 2018 Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Public Engagement with Research

The award celebrates the fantastic work being done by science communicators across the UK. Deadline: 14 April.

Biochemical Society Science Communication Prize

This prize is open to undergraduate and postgraduate students to celebrate outstanding science communication. Deadline: 28 April.

The Beetlestone Award

The Beetlestone Award aims to recognise leaders in the field of informal science learning. Deadline: 1 May.

Royal Society of Biology Outreach and Engagement Award

Two award winners holding their awards in front of a Royal Society of Biology banner

Run by the Royal Society of Biology this award rewards scientists who work to inform, enthuse and engage public groups with biological science. Deadline 26 June

Royal Astronomical Society - Annie Maunder Medal

Award ceremony with the award winner standing on stage being given their medal

Run by the Royal Astronomical Society this medal is awarded for an outstanding contribution to outreach and public engagement for astronomy or geophysics.

Doctoral Award for Public Engagement

The Award aims to recognise and reward high-quality public engagement with research projects carried out by Doctoral Students at the University of Bath.

Applications for the Doctoral Award for Public Engagement are now open. Deadline - Friday 1 May 2020, 5pm.

Find out more about the Award and how to apply

One of the winners of the Engage Awards holding their award in front of a banner

Find inspiration

If you're interested in engaging public groups with your research and need inspiration, discover the different engagement methods used by researchers at the University.

Engagement methods: knowledge exchange

Benefits of the knowledge exchange engagement method, with case studies from researchers who've used it to engage public groups.

Engagement methods: practice-based research

Benefits of the practice-based engagement method, with case studies from researchers who've used it to engage public groups.

Engagement methods: co-production

Benefits of co-producing work with public groups as an engagement method, with case studies from researchers who've used it.

Engagement methods: consulting with industry

Benefits of the consulting with industry for public engagement, with case studies, research and blogs from researchers who've used this method.

Blogs from the Public Engagement Unit

Keep up-to-date with our latest work and thinking about public engagement from the Public Engagement Unit.

What’s the difference between an institution and a conference?

The winner of the 2018 Vice-Chancellor's Engage Awards presenting their research

How do conferences and institutions differ? And what does this mean for our approach to embedding public engagement at NAM2020?

Can public engagement be embedded into an academic conference?

People discussing posters at an exhibition

Working with the Astronomy Meeting 2020, the Public Engagement Unit are testing how public engagement can be embedded into an academic conference.

Nine projects successful in the latest Engage Grants funding call

People round a table talking about their research with researchers from the university

Theatre performances, virtual walks and a policy lab are among some of the projects funded by the Public Engagement Unit to engage public groups with research

Public Engagement Unit projects

Discover more about the Public Engagement Unit's projects and initiatives to embed a positive culture of public engagement with research at the University of Bath.

ChallengeCPD@Bath

three people round table taking part in a training session

Investigating the take-up and impact of training and professional development opportunities for researchers in public engagement.

Manifesto for Public Engagement

The University of Bath is a signatory to the Manifesto for Public Engagement. Developed by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, the Manifesto outlines the three principles that support a positive culture of public engagement.

Find out about the University of Bath's commitments as a signatory to the Manifesto for Public Engagement.

About us

We facilitate high-quality public engagement for staff and students, building mutually beneficial links between our research and the public. We build and sustain institutional capacity for public engagement and aim to support researchers from all disciplines whatever their level of expertise.

Our work covers opportunities for researchers to; develop their skills, practice and understanding of public engagement and be recognised and rewarded for their public engagement work.

Contact us

Get in touch if you have any questions about our services.