Bursary scheme for media workshops

Bursary scheme for media and communication skills training courses

STFC, as part of its Science in Society Programme, may be able to pay for scientists and engineers working in an area eligible for the Council funding to take part in the training courses listed below.

If your area of research falls outside of the STFC remit you will not be eligible to receive this bursary.

Media training course at the Royal Society

On this course you will discover how the media operates and be given the confidence to work with it. The experienced tutors will tell you how and why editors in all branches of the media decide what makes a story newsworthy. Confirmed course dates are:

• 21 March 2012
• 3 October 2012
• 28 November 2012

Further dates / venues will be announced in due course.

Communications skills course at the Royal Society

This course teaches how to write in a clear, understandable way without using jargon and how to structure a talk. The advantages and disadvantages of visual aids are discussed and explained. The course will also teach how to chair conferences and how to run question and answer sessions. Confirmed course dates are:

• 16 March 2012
• 2 May 2012
• 21 November 2012

Further dates / venues will be announced in due course.

Two-day residential courses at the Kavli Royal Society International Centre in Buckinghamshire

This two-day course includes both the communication skills course and media skills training. As well as the full programme for both courses, the residential format of this course allows for extended debate, discussion and dialogue beyond the training sessions.

• 14 - 15 February 2012
• 19 - 20 July 2012
• 29 - 30 October 2012

The courses will be designed and run by The Royal Society (link opens in a new window), and the course tutors will be Judith Hann and John Exelby from "The Media Advantage".

Application procedures and rules

Applicants should apply, in the first instance, to The Royal Society (link opens in a new window) for a place on the course of their choice. When the application has been acknowledged by the Royal Society, you may then apply to STFC for funding by completing our online bursary application form. In case of over subscription, we may give preference to current Council Fellows. The Council cannot award bursaries retrospectively.

Bursary rules

The bursaries are exclusively for scientists and engineers working in a science area eligible for the Council funding and based at a UK University or a Council establishment. This includes PDRAs, Fellows and University staff, but not PhD students or undergraduates. You need not hold a Council research grant. Scientists working for fixed-term periods at overseas sites (e.g., CERN, DESY, La Palma) but attached to a UK University are eligible.

The Council will pay the course fee directly to the Royal Society and will reimburse reasonable actual travel and subsistence costs to a maximum of £250. We will only pay 2nd class rail fares and economy class airfares, and we request proof of expenditure.

Scientists are encouraged also to take advantage of any local training courses in science communications as well, such as those offered by Universities, before taking this course.

The Council will not pay any fee or allowance to those attending the course.

Applicants should note that the travel and subsistence costs related to these courses can also be taken from the Council Research Grants, for staff associated with the grant, under the '1% allowed for Public Engagement.

Participants must provide a short feedback and evaluation report to the Council Science in Society Office. (A form for this may be given to you at the end of the course).

For further Information, please contact:

• Jane Butt
  Tel: 01793 442 030
  Fax: 01793 442 002

Non-Council courses

These range from a few hours to a one-year Master's degree course and include:

• British Science Association Media Fellowships (link opens in a new window) - Scientists spend a few weeks in the summer working in a media organisation;
  
  
• Short courses offered within universities or laboratories, both in general science communications and sometimes in working with the media;
  
  
• Two day, general communication courses run by Peter Evans Associates;
  
  
• Longer degree courses, such as one-year MSc courses in science communications and undergraduate course components in science communications, for example at University College London and the University of the West of England.