Public Engagement Grant Scheme

This scheme supports projects that:

raise public awareness of, and engagement with, contemporary physics.
inspire and enthuse public audiences, especially those not previously interested in physics.
reach adult and family audiences beyond the classroom.
develop the science communication skills of individuals, particularly physicists.

Update on the IOP Public Engagement Grant Scheme - April 2020

In light of the current and evolving situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to postpone the opening of IOP’s 2020 Public Engagement Grant Scheme.

The IOP has been closely monitoring the evolution of risks associated with COVID-19 both domestically and internationally. People’s health and wellbeing is our number one priority, including organisers and attendees to IOP and IOP-funded events across the UK and Ireland. We also want to play our part in helping to slow the spread of the virus.

We are conscious of the time and effort applicants put into their applications and the additional challenges brought about by the uncertainty of these exceptional circumstances and will be regularly reviewing the situation in line with government advice. We will keep this page updated with any changes.

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If you have any queries about this please contact engagement@iop.org.

Who can apply

The scheme is open to individuals and organisations passionate about promoting engagement with physics. You might be:

an Institute member
a researcher in academia or industry
a museum
a community group
a not-for-profit organisation
an arts groups
a library

How much you can apply for

The minimum grant award is £500. You can apply for up to £3,000 to run physics-based events in the UK and Ireland.

How to apply

To hear when future rounds of the Public Engagement Grant Scheme open, and about other opportunities that might interest you, sign up to our mailing list.

If you have questions regarding your application or project idea check our FAQs page or contact engagement@iop.org to discuss your application or arrange a phone call.

A few of our recipients

“We are grateful to the Institute of Physics for providing us with an outreach grant, which will enable Family Action to pilot a wide range of fun, hands on and family friendly rocket themed fun days for vulnerable and low income families during the 2018 summer holidays.” Family Action, grant recipient 2018.

“Careers in both theatre and physics require an active imagination and a great deal of creativity. We are excited to work with the IOP to engage young people, and to make them aware of the exciting possibilities of careers in physics.” Smoking Apples Theatre Company, grant recipient 2018.

“In Wolverhampton, the IOP grants have been a huge success. They have enabled us to use physics learning opportunities to engage and also re-engage with marginalised men, women and young people across different ages, ethnicities and physical and mental health conditions.” BME Housing Consortium, grant recipient 2017, 2016, 2015.

To find out more about projects we've previously funded, read the summaries from previous years' successful applications:

More information

Email: engagement@iop.org

Read our applicant guidelines (PDF, 205KB)

Check our FAQs page

Find out how we get people inspired by physics