A member of the public tries on a VR

There are a number of organisation that provide training for researchers, professional staff and students who are interested in developing their engagement skills. These opportunities are recurring - for one-off/adhoc opporunities, sign-up to our newsletter.

If your organisation is running a training event or programme that you think should be included here, contact us.

External training opportunities

National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement

The NCCPE run a series of public engagement training courses every year. Whether you are a researcher, engagement professional or senior leader, they will have some professional development opportunities available for you. Courses include introductory sessions on public engagement to sessions focused on evaluation, impact or partnerships.

NCCPE's Engage Researchers' Academy is a year-long professional development programme for researchers with a passion for public engagement. The programme creates a challenging but supportive environment for delegates to reflect upon what it means to be an engaged researcher, and to explore the quality and value of engagement. It also supports participants to develop the skills and experience to work with others and improve the impact and relevance of their research. 

The Royal Society

The Royal Society offers several training opportunities including:

  • Introduction to public engagement – aimed at early–mid career scientists who are embarking on independent research careers. Designed with early-mid career researchers in mind, the course includes sessions on the benefits of public engagement, what ‘good’ looks like and understanding audiences, as well as how to create public engagement activities that grow out of, and complement, your research. Course fee is £150 + VAT.
  • Media skills training – a one-day course designed for individuals at late-stage PhD/post-doc level and above. Participants will have the opportunity to work with an experienced TV production team, a top voice coach, and a leading science communicator to prepare and practice media interviews. Course fee is £450 + VAT.

Economic and Social Research Council

The ESRC offers ESRC-funded researchers a free one-day media training session that provides the opportunity to develop practical media skills in a safe environment. The training is an opportunity for researchers, no matter what stage of their career, to develop their skills and feel comfortable handling media interviews.

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

BBSRC's public engagement training course is offered free of charge to any researcher supported by BBSRC, working on a BBSRC grant or based at a BBSRC-funded institute. The course is an interactive day, combining activities and discussion to help you learn about public engagement.

Wellcome Trust

  • Wellcome Trust  run an annual public engagement masterclass in partnership with the Wellcome Genome Campus. This is for new principal investigators and other mid-career researchers from all disciplines. It helps researchers to be proactive and develop their own public engagement plans. Masterclasses take place in July each year. Wellcome-funded researchers can request a bursary to attend for free. 

 

British Science Association

The British Science Association Media Fellowships provide a unique opportunity for practising scientists, clinicians and engineers to spend two to six weeks working at the heart of a media outlet such as the Guardian, BBC Breakfast or The Londonist.