Neuroscience

Domain Chair:

Prof. Trevor Smart

Domain Coordinator:

Dr Matt Wakelin

Communication and Events Officer:

Rachel Heatley

Resources

Demo of travelling wave at British Library - UCL Neuroscience event
UCL neuroscientists, UCL staff/students and members of the public:


Do you have a great idea for a neuroscience public engagement project? Would you like to collaborate on a project with a UCL neuroscientist?

UCL neuroscientists:

Do you need help writing a public engagement grant or advice planning an event? Do you need media/communications/public engagement training or advice? Do you want to publicise your research?

If you answered 'yes' to any of these questions, please contact the UCL Public Engagement Unit.

If you would like more information about involving patients in your research, please contact  the PPI (patient and public involvement) Manager Rosamund Yu on rosamund.yu@ucl.ac.uk.

They also have an online PPI helpdesk that researchers can contact for advice on PPI. The helpdesk can be contacted on ppihelpdesk@ucl.ac.uk

General

What is public engagement? Why is it important? How do I get involved? How can I fund my project? How do I involve patients in my research?

The websites listed below can help answer these questions and many more, and offer invaluable advice aimed specifically at university researchers interested in taking part in public engagement activities.

^Top

Wondermind logo

Training

  • The Science Media Centre - The centre produce a variety of useful publications designed specifically with scientists in mind, including How Science Works (pocket-sized guides for scientists that list effective ways of talking within the context of a short interview about generic issues that span all sciences) and Top Tips for Media Work

^Top

Funding

  • Royal Society Partnership Grants - Up to £3,000 for science projects run at a primary or secondary school  or college in partnership with a professional scientist or engineer

  • Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Awards

    • Arts Award - Up to £30k for innovative art projects that investigate biomedical sciences. Offered four times a year
    • People Award - Up to £30k for innovative public engagement projects (events, debates, exhibitions, drama productions etc.) that explore societal, historical, cultural and ethical impacts of biomedical sciences. Offered four times a year
    • Society Award - Award amount not specified, but usually ~£200k, for ambitious projects that engage people with developments in biomedical science on a regional or national scale
    • Science Media Studentships - Studentships for practising biomedical scientists to undertake a postgraduate qualification in Science Media Production at Imperial College London and to follow this with a six-month placement working in the broadcast industry

  • UCL Public Engagement Funding

    • Beacon Bursuries - Up to £2,000 available for UCL staff and students with good ideas to improve the status of public engagement at UCL

^Top

The Harmonettes performing at British Library-UCL Neuroscience event

Current Opportunities

  • Science Showoff is a new idea from some of the people who brought you Bright Club, The Geek Calendar and more. It’s an open mic night for scientists, science communicators, science teachers, historians and philosophers of science, students, science popularisers and anyone else with something to show off about science. If you want to get involved, or find out about upcoming events, please see http://scienceshowoff.wordpress.com/ or email info@scienceshowoff.org

  • FameLab UK 2013 

    • The search is on for the new voices of science communication.  Over the autumn FameLab UK heats will be taking place across the country from Aberdeen to London, Cardiff to Cambridge.  New for this year, and with help from the Royal Academy of Engineering, FameLab UK has also been able to produce two engineering specific heats to encourage more engineers to enter the competition and develop their skills. If you’re currently working in science. technology, engineering or maths, and think you can explain a science or engineering concept in an engaging way to non-scientists in just three minutes, FameLab wants to hear from you! 
    • The winner of the heats will get the chance to take part in a weekend MasterClass with experts in media & communication skills, before vying for the title of FameLab UK champion at the National Final in April 2013 where they will have the chance to take home £1,750 to further their career
    • For further information, please click here

  • Take part in a Science Cafe

    • Cosy Science are organising a series of science cafés with an aim of providing people with a chance to meet prominent scientists, be inspired by their research and discuss the most interesting aspects of science in an open way. They are looking for enthusiastic scientists, who are ready try out themselves presenting to a non-scientist audience without any visual aid and be challenged by the public during an open discussion. If you are interested, don't hesitate to contact them at cosciuk@gmail.com
    • For further information please see http://www.wix.com/cosciuk/cosciuk

  • ^Top

    UCL researchers taking part in event at Wellcome Trust 75th anniversary of

Ongoing Opportunities

  • UCL Science Journalism Project - Are you interested in a future in science journalism? Do you need work experience? Get involved with SciFacts, a UCL volunteer project that is building an online science magazine written for teens by teens. We are recruiting for workshops leaders for the sessions we run in schools to help school students write their own articles. We are also recruiting for editors, marketing, finance and a few other positions on our committee. Email Bethan  for more info!
  • UCLVoxCast - UCLVoxCast is a fun, conversational podcast for UCL graduate students to talk about their research and engage with others outside of their discipline. If you’d like to get involved, either as a guest or on the team, let us know by emailing voxcast@ucl.ac.uk

  • Proteintech Blog Competition

    • Proteintech have launched a competition to find young research scientists who have a flair for scientific writing. If you want to have your work published on their blog, and win a £25 Amazon gift voucher in the process, then make sure you take part! As well as the voucher prize, winning the competition would look great on your CV to potential employers.
    • This is an ongoing competition with no closing date

  • Write a book/film/TV review for the ScientificKitty website

    • ScientificKitty are looking for scientists to write film, TV or book review, with a scientific slant. You choose the film/TV program/book, old or new, you can write as much or as little as you want, and in any style,but most importantly they want you to comment on the science.
    • Whether you want to write regularly, or just contribute a one off review please get in touch at ScientificKitty@gmail.com or on Twitter @ScientificKitty.
    • This is an ongoing project with no closing date

  • British Science Association Scientists in Society e-lert - Sign up to receive free e-lerts letting you know about all the latest opportunities to engage the public with your work
  • STEMNET - Become a STEM Ambassador. STEM Ambassadors are people from Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) backgrounds who volunteer as inspiring role models for young people. They can contribute both to regular lessons or participate in extra-curricular activities such as STEM Clubs, Careers Days and visits
  • PSCI-COM list at JISCMAIL -  An email discussion forum for all topics relating to public communication of science and public engagement with science. In addition, details of events, meetings, conferences and workshops, job vacancies etc are poster here

^Top