We have compiled a selection of currently available opportunities below, however you can also visit the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) website for a range of regular providers.
British Ecological Society
Outreach Grant
Funding available: Up to £2,000
This grant supports projects that:
- Increase public understanding of, and engagement with, ecology
- Stimulate discussion about ecology and its implications for society
- Inspire and enthuse people of all ages about the science of ecology, especially those not previously interested
Open to individuals and organisations to organise ecological public engagement events. Proposals must be aimed at a non-academic audience and demonstrate direct interaction with them, and also evidence links to the research community at UK, regional and international levels, where appropriate.
Open to non-members.
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Public Engagement Grant
Funding available: Up to £2,000 (smaller bids encouraged)
This grant is for organising and delivering innovative and exciting outreach activities, aimed at young people and/or the general public, to communicate the science of animal behaviour. Examples might be exhibition stands at science fairs, museum workshops and local talks.
Open to individuals and organisations, researchers, schools, museums, libraries and community groups. Members and non-members of ASAB are eligible to apply.
The Physiological Society
Public Engagement Grant
Funding available: Small grant £500; Large grant up to £20,000
This grant aims to:
- increase understanding and awareness of physiology amongst the non-expert public
- increase awareness of the opportunities available To those who pursue physiology in their education
- increase engagement with physiology research
Outreach grants can be used to support the production of creative digital engagement activities.
Members only can apply for the small grant; members and non-members can apply for the large grant. Collaborative applications are encouraged, including those between expert science communicators, facilitators of public engagement, artists, musicians, thespians and our members.
Royal Society of Chemistry
Outreach Fund
Funding available: Small grants up to £5,000; Large grants £5,000 – £10,000
This fund supports projects that:
- maximise RSC members’ outreach and engagement contribution
- offer teachers a range of effective curriculum-enriching activities and opportunities to further engage their students with outreach
- increase chemistry and chemists’ influence in public discourse and decision-making in line with the findings of the Public Attitude to Chemistry research.
Applicants should seek to engage with members of the Royal Society of Chemistry and member groups (e.g. to inform the chemistry content, to develop long-term sustainability plans, to engage volunteers to take part in the activities). However the lead applicant is not required to be a member.
The Genetics Society
Public Engagement Grant
Funding available: Tier 1 up to £1,000; Tier 2 £1,000 – £5,000
Grants are available to cover costs associated with travel and materials for public engagement activities relevant to Genetics.
Proposals will be accepted for public engagement activities which are delivered virtually.
Open to Genetics Society members only.
Royal Society of Biology
Outreach and Engagement Grant
Funding available: Small grant £200; Full grant up to £500
The aim of the grant scheme is to support outreach and engagement events and activities that are creative, impactful, and suited for audiences or based in locations that may have otherwise limited opportunities to engage with bioscience topics or concepts.
Open to Royal Society of Biology members only. Events must take place outside Biology Week (2-10 October).
Anatomical Society
Public Engagement Grant
Funding available: Up to £500
This grant aims to:
- ignite curiosity in young and old audiences about the anatomy of humans and animals.
- stimulate Anatomists to share their stories, passion and expertise in innovative ways with wider audiences, particularly those that are traditionally hard to reach
- increase dialogue between researchers and the public, in particular on topics such as animal research and the relevance of such research to health and medicine
Open to Anatomical Society members only
Society for Applied Microbiology
Outreach and Engagement Grant
Funding available: Up to £4,000
This grant supports activities where aspects of microbiology are promoted to the general public and other relevant stakeholders (or to create resources used for education and training). Proposals eligible for support vary from art and drama to popular music, or funds may be used to exhibit at public science festivals.
Applications should demonstrate:
- that the project is relevant, innovative, microbiology-based and communicates underlying concepts, issues and concerns to the target audience
- targeting of specific public audiences with clear objectives on how to make an impact on the target audience (cross-disciplinary collaborations are encouraged)
- evidence of how publicity will be gained to reach the target audience
- evidence of working with microbiologists to ensure accurate content
Open to non-members.
Microbiology Society
Education and Outreach Grant
Funding available: Up to £1,000
A variety of educational outreach activities to promote public engagement with microbiology will be considered for support. These might include:
Talks, workshops, demonstrations, posters, leaflets, broadcasts, activities at science festivals and audio-visual or computer-based packages.
Applications should demonstrate:
- The project is relevant to microbiology
- The project has clear aims that are realistically achievable in the proposed time frame
- The activity is clearly described and technically feasible
- The project is innovative and/or timely
- There is clear benefit to the target audience
Open to Microbiology Society members only
Society for Endocrinology
Public engagement grant
Funding available: Up to £1,000
This fund supports organisation and delivery of outreach activities, aimed at school children and/or the general public.
The Society is currently encouraging applications that may be suitable for our You and Your Hormones website. Proposals fitting with this theme might include, but are not restricted to:
- Hands-on activities that can be used in classrooms (including printable resources such as worksheets, factsheets or quizzes)
- Short, YouTube-style videos or podcasts
- Endocrine-themed science practicals
- Online website material to reinforce concepts learnt in school
Open to Society for Endocrinology members only.
Royal College of Pathologists
Public Engagement Innovation Grant Scheme
Funding available: Up to £1,000
The scheme aims to:
- inspire innovative and creative pathology related public engagement projects and activities
- raise public awareness of, and engagement with, pathology, in particular with those who would not normally engage with the topic
- develop the science communication skills of pathologists and laboratory scientists
- stimulate discussion about pathology between pathologists and the public in order to motivate, inspire and enthuse both parties about the value of pathology and its role in prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Open to non-members, however, all proposals must include the involvement of pathologists and/or laboratory scientists as a key part of the activity.
The British Pharmacological Society
Engagement Grant
Funding available: Up to £1,500
This grant supports and promotes engagement with all forms of pharmacology and drug discovery research, and is for creating or developing high quality, in person or digital, engagement and outreach activities that will reach a variety of public audiences.
Preference is given to proposals that result in a resource or tool that can be hosted on the British Pharmacological Society website for use by other members, or that can be used to reach under-served groups and communities.
Open to members of the British Pharmacological Society only
British Society for Immunology
Communicating Immunology Grant
Funding available: Up to £1,000
This grant aims to:
- stimulate interest, discussion and understanding of immunology amongst a wide range of audiences
- support formal and informal learning about immunology
- promote potential careers options within immunology and inspire future researchers
Priority will be given to projects engaging the public about COVID-19 in digital/online formats.
At least one named applicant must be a member of the British Society of Immunology
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Engineering Education Grant Scheme
Funding available: Standard applications up to £5,000; large award up to £15,000
This Grant Scheme supports UK-based educational projects which increase engineering knowledge, improve wider engineering literacy and bring about a better understanding of the role of the engineer, and the contribution engineering makes to society, among young people aged 4-19. Any UK project aiming to promote a better understanding of engineering, inspire young people to study STEM subjects or raise awareness of engineering and technology-based careers could be funded.
Non-members may apply, but all projects must involve an IET or IMechE member as an Advocate
National Centre for the 3Rs of Animals in Research
Public Engagement Award
Funding available: Up to £1,500
This fund is for creative projects that engage the public with the approaches being taken to replace, reduce and refine animal use in science. Ideas can include:
- Online engagement activities, including videos
- Laboratory open days
- Hands-on workshops
- Informal discussions with public groups
- Exhibition or talk as part of a local science event (e.g. university open day, science festival)
- Partnership event with a local community group or scientific society
Applicants must be a current or previous recipient (principal investigator/co-investigator or current research group member) of an NC3Rs grant, fellowship or studentship.
Royal Astronomical Society
Education and Outreach Small Grants Scheme
Funding available: Up to £5,000
This grant is for projects that promote greater interest in and understanding of astronomy or geophysics and Activities proven to interest the wider community and, in particular, young people in astronomy or geophysics.
A range of public outreach activities are funded, such as development of public events, training workshops, broadcasting or podcasting, and development of educational material.
London Mathematical Society
Education Grant Scheme
Funding available: Up to £800
This grant aims to stimulate interest and enable involvement in mathematics from Key Stage 1 (age 5+) to Undergraduate level and beyond, by:
- enhancing and enriching mathematical study beyond the curriculum
- engaging the public with mathematics
- encouraging unusual ways of communicating mathematics
The scheme is primarily intended for activities for which there is limited scope for alternative sources of funding. Applicants linked to universities should ideally be supported by a member of the Society and ordinarily the Scheme will not fund University outreach activity. However, anyone based in the UK is eligible to apply for a grant.