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

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

Why public engagement matters

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

Engaging public groups with your research

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

Take part in FUTURES2020

Taking place on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 November 2020, FUTURES2020 is a two day European Researchers' Night Festival. We have a number of opportunities for University of Bath researchers to get involved in, check them out.

Taking science to the streets with Science Busking

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Take part in science busking at Southgate Shopping Centre and share your research with quick-fire demos and develop their public engagement skills.

Discover your funny side with Science Showoff

Take part in Science Showoff and give science comedy a-go, share your research in a light-hearted way and develop their public engagement skills.

Engage people on social media with FUTURESxInstagram

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An opportunity for environmental science researchers interested in engaging people digitally with your work and develop social media skills.

Take to the airwaves with FUTURES on Air

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An opportunity to work with an experienced radio producer to collaborate with public groups to create a short piece of audio for local radio.

Get asked anything with a FUTURES AMA on Reddit

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Develop your digital public engagement skills by taking part in an Ask Me Anything session on social news website Reddit.

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

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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.

Institution of Engineering and Technology's Engineering Education Grant Scheme

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Offering grants up to £15,000, to support educational engagement projects that increase engineering knowledge among young people. Deadline 19 October 2020.

British Science Week Grants

The scheme offers £500-£2,000 grants for activities that work directly with audiences who are traditionally under-represented in science. Deadline 9 November

The British Academy Wolfson Fellowship

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These awards are designed to support early-career researchers who show exceptional talent in both research and public engagement. Deadline 25 November.

London Mathematical Society Education Grants

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

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.

Online Workshops: GW4 Crucible - Transition to Net Zero in the Time of Covid-19

GW4 Crucible brings together 30 future research leaders to explore how you can enhance your career through three online workshops. Deadline 26 October.

Webinar: Moving Dialogue Online

This series of 5 webinars is aimed at helping professionals working with citizen engagement to find a way of moving their activities online.

Public Engagement Masterclass: delivering events during Covid-19

This Being Human masterclass will explore the practicalities of delivering a public engagement event and thinking through your audience’s experience on the day.

BIG Science Communication Socials

BIG’s Sci Comm Socials are a regular social gathering of people who work in, or are interested in, science communication, outreach or public engagement in STEM.

Science Communication 101

This training session will provide some tips on how to communicate science and is ideal for those who are new to science communication. 28 October.

STEAM Digital Science Communication School

STEAM is an innovative course in science communication, building on traditional methods by combining STEM with the Arts. Free places available until 2 November.

Engagement opportunities

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

I'm a Scientist: online STEM engagement

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Researchers and technicians invited to help students stay connected with STEM, their teachers and their classmates using this online STEM engagement activity.

Reddit AMA (Ask me Anything)

A female scientist presenting her research

As part of the Public Engagement Unit's digital engagement programme we are looking for researchers to participate in an online event using Reddit.

Research at Lunchtime on Facebook Live

As part of the Public Engagement Unit's digital engagement programme we are looking for researchers to participate in an online event using Facebook Live.

Take part in Cardiff Science Festival

Children speaking to a male presenter at Cardiff Science Festival

Cardiff Science Festival are looking for physical and digital events to be part of next years festival. The festival will take place from the 18 - 21 Feb 2021.

Blogs from the Public Engagement Unit

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

Navigate culture change with our Field Guide

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Working to embed a positive culture of public engagement with research can feel like an adventure. We've created this Field Guide to share our experiences.

Celebrating doctoral students' public engagement work

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The Doctoral College and the Public Engagement Unit are thrilled to announce the winner of the inaugural Doctoral Award for Public Engagement.

Funding success for exciting engineering engagement projects

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Young people will be joining University of Bath engineers and participating in some exciting projects to engage them with cutting edge engineering.

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.

Engaged360@Bath

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Embedding a positive culture of public engagement with research at the University of Bath.

Viewpoints: Bringing Water Research to Life

Young people using nets to sample invertebrate life on the River Avon

A collaborative engagement project with the Natural History Consortium and researchers at the University of Bath exploring water quality across the River Avon.

ChallengeCPD@Bath

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Investigating the provision, uptake and impact of training and professional development opportunities for researchers in public engagement.

Community Matters

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A collaborative project between community organisations and University of Bath researchers to undertake community-based participatory research.

FUTURES: European Researchers' Night

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A Festival of Discovery that showcases and engages people across the South West of England with the region's research and innovation.

A Field Guide to Public Engagement and Culture Change

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An interactive tool sharing the approach the Public Engagement Unit takes to embedding a culture of public engagement with research at the University of Bath.

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.