Deadline: 4-May-23
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced the Spark Awards 2023 (Round One) to Engage the public with science, technology or facilities.
The scheme aims to support high-quality public engagement to a range of audiences.
Funding Information
Up to £15,000 is available to cover the full cost of projects lasting up to 36 months. Funding can be used for a variety of things including:
- Contributions to salary; this includes for staff in higher education institutions where the work would not be considered part of normal duties.
- Materials.
- Travel and subsistence.
- For applications from, or for, schools, ‘requests for supply or teacher cover’ and ‘transport costs’ are also eligible.
Projects
- STFC is looking to support projects that do one or more of the following:
- Deliver high-quality public engagement activities in the areas supported by STFC.
- Introduce STFC science and technology to new audiences.
- Highlight the achievements of STFC science and technology.
- Demonstrate the value to the UK of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
- Work with the public engagement and communication teams.
- Spark Awards encourage ‘novel approaches’ to engagement and audience. However, applications that use established engagement methods are welcomed.
- Programmes must focus on areas within the remit of STFC:
- Astronomy.
- Solar and planetary science.
- Particle physics.
- Particle astrophysics.
- Cosmology.
- Nuclear physics.
- Accelerator science.
- STFC facilities, where prominent in the project.
- STFC would particularly like to fund projects that engage:
- Eight to 14-year-olds, and their families, in socio-economically deprived areas.
- Groups considered to have low science capital.
Eligibility Criteria
- STFC Spark Awards are open to almost anyone based in the UK, both academic and non-academic organisations are encouraged to apply. Eligible organisations include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Researchers.
- Technicians.
- STFC scientists and engineers.
- STFC facility users.
- Charities.
- Schools.
- Museums.
- Libraries.
- Community groups.
- Science communicators.
- Amateur astronomy groups.
- The ‘principal applicant’ must be eligible to apply on behalf of the organisation that would hold the award.
For more information, visit STFC.