Colleagues (all staff including academic, professional services and technical roles) are invited to propose activities for the 2026 British Science Festival through a closed call which opens week commencing 23 June and closes at the end of September.
The closed call is reserved for staff at the University and their collaborators, while an open call, which will be live in November 2025, will attract proposals from across the UK and beyond.
Around 20 activity proposals will be selected from the closed call to be added to the Festival Programme and will receive support from the British Science Association to ensure the best possible outcomes from this incredible opportunity.
Why take part?
- International significance – The British Science Festival is Europe’s longest running Science and Engineering Festival and regularly attracts 15,000+ visitors over the five days it runs.
- Connect with new audiences – with a target audience of 16 – 34 year olds and a focus on inclusivity, it is the perfect opportunity to connect with, and hear from, new and different audiences who may be interested in getting involved in your research/work, studying at the University or who may even be interested in collaborating with you.
- Enhanced profile and reputation – the 2024 Festival achieved 451 pieces of media coverage from national media outlets, including The Times, BBC, ITV News, Financial Times, New Scientist and more.
- Impact – sharing your research/work, consulting with attendees and potentially sparking new collaborations could be a key element of how your research/work has an impact beyond academia.
- Professional connections – the Festival attracts senior policymakers, industry partners and colleagues from institutions, businesses and charities across the UK and beyond.
- Skills and personal development – taking part in the Festival is a great opportunity to develop and evidence your, and your colleagues’, transferable skills related to Public Engagement, which includes skills underpinning the Researcher Development Framework from Communications, to Partnership working and Evaluation.
- Interdisciplinary – although badged a science festival, Arts and Culture are an essential thread throughout all activities in the programme, proposals are welcomed from all disciplines and particularly activities that weave together the sciences, arts and humanities in unexpected ways.?
What can you do now?
Visit the SharePoint site which includes frequently asked questions, further details on criteria for the closed call and a short Expression of Interest form to be kept up to date on all future news in your inbox:
BSF SharePoint site (host information)