Outreach and Engagement
Dr Elizabeth Cunningham
Particle and Nuclear Physics Outreach Officer
Elizabeth.Cunningham@stfc.ac.uk
Outline
• STFC Public Engagement (PE)
• PE Support for Researchers
• Nuclear Physics Outreach
• In Development…
Public Engagement Team
Inspire and Involve!
• Linking STFC science and
technology with young people
• Stimulate and respond to
public interest in research
• Encourage and support
researchers outreach projects
STFC National Laboratories
• Three sites
– Daresbury Laboratory
– Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
– Royal Observatory Edinburgh
• Activities
– Work experience, apprenticeships, ‘Talking Science’ lecture
series, public access days, school visits, careers days,
masterclasses, teacher visits and CPD.
– External events: Stargazing LIVE, Engineering Education
Scheme, Young Rewired State, local science
festivals, Dark Sky Discovery and
the Big Bang.
Strategic Plan
Support for Researchers
Funding
• STFC, Small Awards. Funds for small, local or 'pilot'
projects promoting STFC science and technology.
Awards range from £500 to £10,000.
– Closing dates April and October.
• STFC, Large Awards. Funds for projects which are
expected to have a significant regional or national
impact. Awards range from £10,000 to £100,000.
– Closing date November 2014.
CERN@school
Bringing CERN into the classroom
• Uses pixel detector chips from the
Medipix Collaboration at CERN
• Engage students and teachers with real
research equipment and data
• To develop research based learning as
part of students’ experience of physics
http://cernatschool.web.cern.ch
Radiation Around You
• Research programme developed by
high school students
• Schools gather measurements
of background radiation levels
in their local area
• Try to identify spatial and
temporal trends.
• Measurements collated into a dataset
available to all
Fellowships
• Aimed at those with significant research experience
who have demonstrated a track record in outreach or
communications work
• The Fellowships purchase a
proportion of a researcher’s
time to enable them to
concentrate more on public
engagement activities which
will have a significant national
or regional impact
Training Support
• Bursaries for Royal Society
media and communications
workshops
• Support for British Science
Association media fellowships
• Royal Society Summer
Exhibition Grants.
Working with the Media
• Press releases
• Media briefings
• Publicity
• Engaging with politicians
• Training
Knowledge Exchange Workshop
• Nuclear Physics Technology Showcase Event
• To develop links between
UK nuclear physicists and
industry
• Topics raised: need to
maintain and improve
nuclear databases
• Follow up workshop on nuclear data at the National
Physical Laboratory
Nuclear Physics Outreach
Monthly Newsletter
Masterclasses
• Started at University
of Liverpool, expanded
to University of Surrey…
• One day events for high
school students
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Lectures
Radiation Lab
Careers workshops
Ice cream!
Teach the Teachers
• Started by David Jenkins
when he was a public
engagement fellow
• One days events for high
school physics teachers
– Lectures
– Make and take workshop
– Facility tours
Website
Free Resources
Currently in Development
• Nuclear Physics resource
– Broadsheet detailing activities
and applications of UK nuclear
physics
• Nuclear physics teaching
resources
– Curriculum linked classroom
activities and teacher notes
Summary
• STFC seeks to inspire and involve the wider public in
STFC-supported research through a wide range of
PE activities and funding schemes.
• There is an opportunity to develop and expand
programmes of PE activity and resources for nuclear
physics.
• Nuclear physicists do amazing things, we want to tell
as many people as we can about them.
Any Questions?
elizabeth.cunningham@stfc.ac.uk
www.stfc.ac.uk/NuclearPhysicsForYou