Scientific Outreach Grants

Successful applications will provide clear and detailed explanations for the following:

• The likelihood of delivery within the proposed timetable and within the funding requested.

• Long-term benefits and output(s) from the project. For the £2,500 projects, this should be repeat or sustained engagement and/or plans for multiple events or activities. 

• The inclusion of interactive hands-on/practical work tailored to the target participants and format of activity.

• The effectiveness of the project for disseminating relevant information about the molecular biosciences to the desired participants. The effectiveness will be considered in terms of the attractiveness of the activity to the target participants and the soundness of the underpinning science. A guide for targeting different age groups is below:
  • Age 4-7 – need to have a 'science focus', not necessarily on biology.
  • Age 7-11 – need to incorporate a/some biological theme(s) within a broader science focus.
  • Age 11-14 – support for biology within a balanced science curriculum.
  • Age 14-18 – support for biology, with increasing emphasis on molecular biology.
  • Post-18 – support for molecular biosciences in their own right.

• The number and demographic of participants reached by the project, e.g., young people, teachers, members of the public, volunteers and communities involved in developing the project or the people to whom material is passed on.

• Widening participation in bioscience, with regard to underrepresented groups in science and/or higher education, or groups that have limited access to scientific engagement activities. Read more under further resources.

• Inclusive practice when interacting with participants.

• Plans for measuring and evaluating the potential impact of the project, over at least the following few months to a year, as well as directly after the event/activity.

• Collaborations between organisations, such as schools, universities, businesses, community centres, science and discovery centres.

• The promotion of molecular bioscience career opportunities. 

• Previous experience of the applicant taking part in outreach or engagement projects. Please note that we welcome ‘first time’ applicants, and support can be offered by the Society if required.

For both levels of funding, the Society requires an output from the activity to ensure the long-term impact more widely e.g., through repeat engagement, engaging underrepresented groups, or the scale and reach of the activity. Examples of outputs for this level of funding could be:

• A guide to running the activity for others to use.
• Resource/activity pack that could be used by others to continue the project.
• An article in The Biochemist discussing the project development and impact that would encourage others to engage in similar activities.
• A thorough evaluation or study of the long-term impact of the engagement activity over a longer timescale than an initial post-activity evaluation.
• Training of relevant individuals who can continue to deliver the engagement activities/project.

All grant recipients are also required to submit a report within 12 weeks of the funded activity taking place.

• The Recipient must acknowledge the Biochemical Society grant by email within a week of receiving the offer email, otherwise the offer may be withdrawn.
• The Biochemical Society logo will be provided and must be displayed on all published material which arises from the grant project, either online or in print. At any event(s) which take place as a result of funding, the recipient must ensure any marketing materials provided by the Biochemical Society are displayed at all times.
• The Biochemical Society cannot be held responsible for any of the Recipient’s debts or liabilities.
• The Recipient is responsible for obtaining their own financial and legal advice. 
• The Recipient must act in accordance with government legislation and is responsible for obtaining any licenses, permissions and insurances that are necessary by law.
• In the case of original research being produced as a result of the Biochemical Society Scientific Outreach Grant scheme, the Biochemical Society must be acknowledged as the funder of this research in all publications. The intellectual property of the work will remain with the individual(s), groups, charities or businesses by whom it was carried out.

• Read more about underrepresented groups in STEM through APPG’s inquiry into equity in the STEM workforce.
• Explore research by the ASPIRES team on widening participation in STEM.
• Read more about access to science engagement across the UK through the British Science Association’s commissioned report on science engagement mapping.
• Discover our useful public engagement resources on making your activity accessible and equitable as well as useful guidance on measuring and evaluating the potential impact of your project.