The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are on the ground in six continents and over 110 countries, bringing international opportunity to life, every day. Each year we work with and connect millions of people, sharing our culture and the UK’s most attractive assets: Education, Society and Science, the Arts and English.
Science and research play a critical role in our work, helping citizens and institutions contribute to a more inclusive, open and prosperous world and connecting local issues to global themes. Public engagement, in particular, is an increasingly important aspect of science and the British Council has extensive experience and expertise in developing initiatives and partnerships which build on the UK’s reputation for excellence in this area. We link scientists globally and encourage grass-roots discussion of science and sustainability issues, support researchers in showcasing their work internationally, work with and develop the brightest new talent in science communication across the globe and engage the public directly with scientific subjects that affect our society. Specific examples include:
FAMELAB INTERNATIONAL: A global competition to discover and nurture the new faces of science communication and support them to share their passion for science with the public – 35+ different countries up to 2021 with 29 taking part in 2020; 370+ partner organisations which have included NASA and CERN; 12162 Facebook page likes; 13800+ scientists and engineers in total have taken part; a total audience of 35600 engaged face-to-face in 2019-20; 738k video views on YouTube and almost 6k channel subscribers.
FAMELAB IRELAND 2014-2021: Dynamic multi-sectoral partnership involving Newstalk 106-108fm, Science Gallery Dublin, Dublin City University, NUI Galway, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, University of Limerick, Teagasc, Henkel Ireland Ltd and CPL Plc, multiple SFI research centres and several other STEM organisations from across Ireland (25+ partners in total). Impact up to 2020 competition includes: 680+ competition entries all receiving some level of sci-comms training; communication master class weekend for approximately 80+ Ireland finalists; FameLab Ireland finals 1350+ live audience and Youtube films estimated 25700+ viewers; other FameLab public engagement events involving a FameLab alumni network of 80+ and reaching 18730+ direct participants to date; FameLab Ireland website/Twitter channels, estimated 13250+ unique website visitors and 2945 Twitter followers; media campaign 11.9 million+ anticipated reach; and of course, FameLab national winners representing Ireland at the international finals annually, Cheltenham Science Festival, UK – resulting in excellent exposure for Irish science nationally and internationally. FameLab has also led to British Council and Ireland alumni involvement in a much wider programme of STEM public engagement/education activities nationally and internationally. These include Science Week Ireland, SCI:COM Conference, Scientifically Speaking training, Festival of Curiosity, House of STEM, EU Researchers’ Night, Sense About Science, SmartFutures, SciFest, Pint of Science Ireland, Next Gen Fem podcast, Bright Club Ireland, NI Science Festival, Electric Picnic, Hall of FameLab UK, Sofia/Athens Science Festivals, FameLab International Echoes, Czech Republic, School Lab France, STEAM In Youth and others.
Other British Council activities that connect arts and science include:
THE CLIMATE CONNECTION: To support COP26 ambitions, this diverse programme brings people around the world together to meet the challenges of climate change. Through arts and culture, education and the English language, it is about sharing ideas, developing innovative climate solutions, and taking positive action together (https://www.britishcouncil.org/climate-connection)
BAKING IN SPACE 2018-20: An interactive, fun family event which explores the surprising connections between everyday bakes and the extraordinary engineering that helps keep astronauts alive in space. Partnerships with European Space Agency, EIRSAT-1, Yakult Ltd, NCCWN, UCC, NUIG, University of Limerick, Cork, Athlone and Midlands Science Festivals, Galway Science and Technology Festival, I-Lofar, Andrew Smyth (aerospace engineer and Great British Bake-Off finalist), and Dr Niamh Shaw (scientist, performer and space explorer). Six in-person sold-out events at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin; Kino, Cork; and Black Box, Galway, as well as four online events (1600+ audience) as part of Science Week.
ART IN MIND 2017-18: Four Science Week Ireland events where the Arts and Science interconnected to explore how different art forms impact our minds and how science impacts the artistic process. All events, with the National Gallery of Ireland, Butler Gallery Kilkenny and Highlanes Gallery Drogheda were sold-out and involved diverse contributors, discussion, experiments and performance.
SHAKESPEARE LIVES IN SCIENCE: A range of science-based blogs, feature articles, public events, workshops and other activities across the globe to celebrate Shakespeare’s work on the 400th anniversary of his death in 2016. Included two events in Dublin/Monaghan as part of Science Week Ireland – Can Shakespeare Make You Fall in Love?
CAFÉ SCIENTIFIQUES: Engages a wider audience with science and the impact it has on society through informal debate on topical issues. The British Council has run Café Scientifique events for several years in over 40 countries.
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVALS: We have managed science festivals with local partners in several countries (Eg, Bulgaria, Greece, Hong Kong) and work with them and UK experts/UK Science Festival Networks to support public engagement with science around the world.
RESEARCHER CONNECT: A series of short interactive learning modules for researchers at any stage of their career and from any academic discipline. It is a professional development course that focuses on the development of excellent communication skills in international, multi-cultural contexts as highlighted by Vitae in the Researcher Development Framework.
EURAXESS: An online hub providing support, advice and funding for researchers to collaborate and share knowledge across the world. It works in three key areas: jobs, services and rights, and is completely free to researchers who are interested in working abroad.
NEWTON FUND: A UK government initiative which aims to develop science and innovation partnerships that promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries. It is delivered through 15 UK delivery partners in collaboration with 16 partner countries. Relevant strands include: Professional Development and Engagement (building the skills of researchers in areas such as communication and research management, as well as supporting community and policymaker engagement) and STEM Education (supporting STEM education through a variety of mechanisms such as the development of STEM teaching resources, or piloting novel STEM initiatives).
VOICES MAGAZINE: A global digital newsletter highlighting UK/international science that’s shaping society and bringing a new dimension to everyday life, including latest opportunities, articles, and MOOC course alerts.