Displays of Power exhibition extended until 5 September 2020

Our Public Engagement Unit is delighted to announce the awardees in the latest round of Beacon Bursaries. After another very competitive round, the unit is proud to have funded 13 projects at the end of 2016/17.Activities we have supported in this round include promoting access to health information and services in the Chinese community in the UK, addressing sewage management on canal boats, creating a photo exhibition on parental leave for fathers, and a host of other projects that will connect with a variety of public groups.[[{"fid":"5419","view_mode":"large","fields":{"format":"large","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Beacon Bursaries","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][title]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][url]":"","field_caption[und][0][value]":"%3Cp%3EParticipants%20from%20%26lsquo%3BBeat%20Boxing%20after%20laryngectomy%26rsquo%3B%2C%20a%20Beacon%20Bursary%20project%20led%20by%20Dr%20Evangelos%20Himonides%3C%2Fp%3E","field_caption[und][0][format]":"limited_html","field_float_left_right[und]":"none","field_file_image_decorative[und]":"0"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"large","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Beacon Bursaries","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][title]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][url]":"","field_caption[und][0][value]":"%3Cp%3EParticipants%20from%20%26lsquo%3BBeat%20Boxing%20after%20laryngectomy%26rsquo%3B%2C%20a%20Beacon%20Bursary%20project%20led%20by%20Dr%20Evangelos%20Himonides%3C%2Fp%3E","field_caption[und][0][format]":"limited_html","field_float_left_right[und]":"none","field_file_image_decorative[und]":"0"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"920","width":"1379","class":"media-element file-large"}}]]Previous Beacon Bursary winners have run workshops in remote communities around the world. Energy mapping and photography skills were shared with off-grid solar home users in Rwanda to assess the technology and its impact in the communities. In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, mapping skills were used to gather data on urban water access. The data collected increased the negotiating power of local residents when appealing to their governments for service improvements. These skills mobilised individuals who might previously have felt powerless, and effected real change in the community.[[{"fid":"5495","view_mode":"large","fields":{"format":"large","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Mapping workshops Iwona Bisaga","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][title]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][url]":"","field_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_caption[und][0][format]":"limited_html","field_float_left_right[und]":"none","field_file_image_decorative[und]":"0"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"large","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Mapping workshops Iwona Bisaga","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][title]":"","field_caption_heading[und][0][url]":"","field_caption[und][0][value]":"","field_caption[und][0][format]":"limited_html","field_float_left_right[und]":"none","field_file_image_decorative[und]":"0"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"height":"1880","width":"2816","class":"media-element file-large"}}]]We’re really excited to see how this year’s projects develop with the support of the Beacon Bursaries, and will invite project leaders to update on their progress throughout the year.Beacon Bursaries are available to UCL staff and postgraduate research students looking to connect their research or teaching with people outside UCL in a new way. The next deadline for the fund is in June 2018, and the round will be open in January 2018. Sign up to our newsletter for further announcements and information.To read more about the Beacon Bursaries, please visit our project page here. 

This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of the UCL Public Engagaement Unit. We'll be looking at some of their highlights in the weeks and months to come, but right now we want to talk about funding opportunities which open today. The Public Engagement Unit offers two funding programmes: Beacon Bursaries – Deadline 17th June 2018Beacon Bursaries are designed to support staff and postgraduate research students at UCL to engage with public groups. This scheme funds public engagement activities that increase staff and postgraduate research students’ activity, skills, and understanding of public engagement. Up to £2,000 is available through this fund.In 2017, Beacon Bursaries supported staff and students to create a participatory photography exhibition in Rwanda, host workshops with young people with chronic rheumatic conditions, create storytelling maps in Cornwall, and to run a beatboxing workshop with patients who have had laryngectomies. The bursaries have funded a host of activities in previous years, and for more information and guidance on this round, and information on previous projects, please visit our project page.Train and Engage – Deadline 3rd June 2018The aim of the Train and Engage grant scheme is to increase activity, skills and understanding of public engagement among postgraduate research students across UCL. Only those who have attended training delivered by the PEU are able to apply for the funding of up to £1,000. If you have been funded through this scheme in the past, you are not eligible for this round.In 2017, Train and Engage funding supported postgraduate research students to work on projects linked to festivals, playgrounds, infant development, herbal medicine, photosynthesis and much more. This funding is a valuable public engagement development opportunity, and for information and guidance for this round, please visit our project page. With all of our funding schemes, it is essential that applicants read the guidance, and we recommend that they also contact the unit to discuss their proposals.For any help or questions about applying for funding, please email publicengagement@ucl.ac.uk. Good luck!