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.

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.

AHRC Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Engagement Fellowships

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A scheme to enable researchers with an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion dimension to engage relevant public groups. Deadline 10 September 2020.

Royal Academy of Engineering's Ingenious: public engagement awards

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Funding for projects between £3,000 and £30,000 that engage people with engineering and help develop engineers' engagement skills. Deadline: 28 September 2020

STFC Leadership Fellows in Public Engagement

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Funding for STFC researchers and technical staff up to £200,000 to undertake programmes of engagement and become engagement champions. Deadline 1 October 2020.

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.

STFC Public Engagement Reaction Award

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Funding scheme for public engagement activities up to £5,000, that respond to new developments related to STFC's science and technology remit. Open call.

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.

British Ecology Society training programme

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Sessions cover practical techniques to engage public groups, such as social media video production, graphic design and evaluation. July to August 2020.

A road map for becoming an enterprising Early Career Researcher

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A University of Bath run workshop series for Early Career Researchers to develop their enterprising ideas. 4-5 August and 14-18 September.

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.

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.

Take part in the Minerva lecture series 2020-21

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The Public Engagement Unit is looking for speakers and content for the 2020-21 Minerva series. Deadline: 31 July.

Reddit AMA (Ask me Anything)

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

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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.

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.

Royal Astronomical Society - Annie Maunder Medal

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

Blogs from the Public Engagement Unit

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

Take part in FUTURES2020

The Public Engagement Unit is looking for researchers to take part in some exciting activities to share their research as part of European Researchers' Night.

On the sofa with... Darragh McGee, New Generation Thinker 2020

We catch-up with Darragh McGee (Department of Health) about his success as a New Generation Thinker 2020 and his public engagement experience.

Funding success for FUTURES Festival of Discovery

FUTURES has been awarded funding from the European Commission to bring this Festival of Discovery back for another year as part of European Researchers’ Night.

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.