Learn more about public engagement opportunities

(Posted on behalf of Ed Drewitt, School of Earth Sciences)

Hi everyone,

With many of the departments in the University involved with public engagement, there will be various opportunities for you as staff or postgrads to get more involved both with these and other volunteer experiences. Being involved with the outreach work is a great chance for you to increase your confidence with delivering to various different audiences (from 5 year olds to 14 year olds) and to help provide you with the experience to confidently include public engagement activities in your future research bids.

 On Tuesday 1st November we welcome Nicholas Garrick (Director of Lighting Up Learning) and Claire Dimond (STEM- see below) who will give 4 workshops throughout the day (it'll be the same workshop repeated) which will give additional advice and skills relating to delivering high quality and effective workshops in schools. These will be held in the Wills Memorial Building.

 It is a chance to learn about where schools are at, changes in the school system since we were at school (even if it was a few years ago) and tips on good practice when doing activities and workshops. Timings and rooms are as follows:

School of Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building  

9am - 10am G25
12pm - 1pm G27
1.15pm - 2.15pm OCC (Old Council Chamber) -on the corridor above G25 and opposite the student common room
 2.30pm - 3.30pm OCC (Old Council Chamber) -on the corridor above G25 and opposite the student common room 

To help deliver workshops we also encourage you to sign up as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Ambassador: We recommend you do this before the 1st November so you can show document to Claire Dimond on the day. As part of your commitment with being involved with schools and families, we ask that you join up as a STEM Ambassador. STEM Ambassadors are people from industry and universities who visit schools to give talks or workshops relating to STEM subjects. Alongside the workshops we offer you'll get regular newsletters about other things you can do in schools locally.

You'll get CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked for free and be covered under insurance for any school visits. For more information and to sign up as a STEM Ambassador click here.

Looking forward to see you next week.
 Best wishes
 Ed

 See our new website bristoldinosaur.com and why not like us on our Facebook page

Changing Perspectives - you will want to come to this!

The University of Bristol’s exciting series of art-science activities – Changing Perspectives – is fast-approaching.  With free exhibitions, talks, workshops and a family-friendly day of circus-inspired science, there is something for everyone...

More information and a full list of events is available at bristol.ac.uk/changingperspectives

Saturday 19 March 10 am – 5 pm
Experience Changing Perspectives
Watch aerial circus performers, learn how they accomplish their extraordinary feats and discover how your body works with TV presenter Alice Roberts.  Take part in body painting and talk to researchers from the University of Bristol about cutting edge research – in anatomy and physiology, neuroscience, robotics and biomechanics – happening in your city.
Venue Circomedia, Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8SJ

Saturday 26 March – Saturday 30 April 2011
Monday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm
Changing Perspectives exhibition at the Grant Bradley Gallery
A vibrant exhibition of art inspired by the life sciences and medicine, including medical student and patient reflections, research images as art, science-inspired fiction, and chances for you to share your perspectives on the body.
Venue Grant Bradley Gallery, 1 St Peter’s Court, Bedminster Parade, BS3 4AQ

Friday 1 April – Saturday 30 April 2011
Monday – Friday 10 am – 6 pm; Saturday – Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Changing Perspectives exhibition at the Bristol Gallery
How do we visualise and express things we can’t see?  Explore the complex worlds of mathematics, physics, chemistry and physical geography through a stunning range of sculpture, drawings, film and animation, and photography.
Venue Bristol Gallery, Millennium Promenade, Harbourside, BS1 5TY

Talks and events:

Tuesday 29 March 2011, 6pm
Out of Our Heads: where art meets medicine
http://www.bris.ac.uk/public-engagement/events/2011/31.html

Monday 4 April 2011, 4 pm
The 100-year hunt for Red Sprites
http://www.bris.ac.uk/public-engagement/events/2011/39.html

Tuesday 5 April 2011, 6 pm
Fragility
http://www.bris.ac.uk/public-engagement/events/2011/35.html

Thursday 7 April 2011, 6 pm
Inspired Engineering
http://www.bris.ac.uk/public-engagement/events/2011/32.html

Tuesday 12 April 2011, 6 pm
Manipulating biologies: convergences and divergences of bioart and biosciences
http://www.bris.ac.uk/public-engagement/events/2011/40.html

Tuesday 19 April 2011, 6 pm
Science-inspired fiction - Open Mic Night
http://www.bris.ac.uk/public-engagement/events/2011/36.html

Changing Perspectives is a series of free public exhibitions, talks, workshops and performances that explores the fascinating connections between art and science.  We’ll be seeing what happens when fiction meets cell biology, when chaotic systems meet crochet and when medicine meets art.  We invite you to participate and share your perspective with academics, students and artists.  

More information and a full list of events is available at bristol.ac.uk/changingperspectives

Download the flier here (PDF, 1.1MB), and follow us on Twitter for new, provocative perspectives throughout March and April – CPE_Bristol #chngpersp