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 – November 2021

After a hiatus the Public Engagement Grant Scheme will be re-launching in 2022.

In the coming months we will be working to update the scheme and ensure that it is fully aligned with the Limit Less campaign, and the aims of our strategy.

We are very conscious of the time and effort applicants put into their applications, so to make sure that everyone has time to prepare, the full details of the scheme will be announced on this page before the scheme re-opens with advice about eligibility and how to apply.

Please see below for details of the scheme up until 2019, for context and guidance. Please note that these are subject to change as the scheme is updated.

First name

Last name

Organisation

Contact email address

Are you a member of the Institute of Physics?

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If you have any queries about this please contact [email protected].

Who can apply

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

an IOP member
a researcher in academia or industry
a museum
a community group
a not-for-profit organisation
an arts group
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 above.

If you have questions regarding your application or project idea check our FAQs page or contact [email protected] to discuss your application or arrange a phone call.

A few of our recipients

“We are grateful to the IOP 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: [email protected]

Read our applicant guidelines (PDF, 205KB)

Check our FAQs page

Find out how we get people inspired by physics