Community News Archive

Grants for great communicators

Physics in Society

15 September 2006

Apply for an Institute of Physics public engagement grant of up to £1000

Are you passionate about physics? Are you a great communicator?  Do you have a fantastic idea for making physics accessible to the public?  Can you inspire other people with your enthusiasm?  Do you need support to make your physics outreach activity happen?

If you answered yes to these questions, then why not apply for a Public Engagement Grant from the Institute of Physics?  The grants are worth up to £1000 and are awarded to individuals and organisations who want to organise a physics-based outreach activity in the UK and Ireland throughout 2007.

The scheme is open to everyone but the projects must appeal to the local community, not just deliver the science curriculum to school children. Previous projects that have received grants through the scheme include a trip for 200 Guides to Space Science, an event exploring space science research at Surrey University; a series of three discussions on the philosophy of physics in a London pub; a giant outdoor physics poem in Bristol and a workshop on the physics of transport at the London Science Museum.

Caitlin Watson, physics in society manager at the Institute of Physics, said: “I am always impressed by the range of physics-based activities that we are able to support through the grant scheme and the commitment of organisers to promoting physics in their communities. The feedback from these projects has been very positive from both children and adults and we hope to be able to reach out to even more people during 2007.”

Bec Gee, arts and ceremonies manager at Once, an arts-based company in Bristol who received support last year said, "Thanks to a grant from the Institute of Physics, Once has been able to create an arts-inspired physics outreach project called ‘The Physics Poem’ involving members of the public. The poem sparked lively debate on the meaning of physics and created a fun activity for many different people."

The closing date for applications to the scheme is 3 November 2006. Applicants wishing to discuss their ideas can contact Caitlin Watson, physics in society manager for informal advice.

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