Resources for public engagement
Our public engagement activities share the joy of physics, highlighting its impact on society and the opportunities it provides for all.
Here you’ll find ideas for activities and resources, as well as ways to evaluate your public engagement and possibilities for funding.
Whether you’re a physicist looking to develop your public engagement skills or a public engagement practitioner looking to run an event, the following resources will help you share your passion for physics.
Activities
Here are some ideas and resources to get you started when planning your own outreach activities. They can be adapted to suit different audiences, venues and the amount of time you have available.
The Women’s Institute physics activity pack
We worked with the WI to develop physics activities that WI members can get involved with. This physics activity pack includes a range of activities that can take place during WI meetings or with any similar community groups.
Funding
Several organisations, including the IOP, have grant schemes that could help to finance your physics-based outreach activity. For more information about individual schemes, please contact the relevant organisation directly.
This isn't an exhaustive list so please do search for other available funding opportunities.
Public Engagement Grant Scheme
This grant supports physics-based projects in the UK and Ireland that align with the Limit Less campaign and improve people’s relationship with physics in their family or community groups. Applications have closed for 2024.
Royal Society Partnership Grant
The Partnership Grant offers up to £3,000 to UK schools or colleges to buy equipment to run a STEM investigation project in partnership with a STEM professional (research or industry).
Evaluation
Evaluation is an essential part of any public engagement activity. It allows you to see what has been successful and what can be improved.
You may find the following IOP evaluation reports useful when doing your own evaluations:
Here is a list of resources to help you evaluate your project but it isn’t exhaustive, so please do search for other evaluation resources.
NCCPE – engagement pages
Especially good evaluation resources for those new to evaluation from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE).
RAENG – ingenious evaluation guide
A general, introductory guide to doing evaluation aimed at holders of an Ingenious grant from the Royal Academy of Engineering but includes generic advice of use to anyone.
Science Museum – sharing expertise
A resource toolkit designed for museums and science centres containing expert tips and practical advice that can often be applied to any public engagement with science activity.
Safeguarding
Our Safeguarding Policy: Essentials for IOP members and volunteers
Action you can take to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and to protect them from harm at IOP outreach activities.
Volunteer
Could you explain magnetism, collisions and plasma? Or would you like to volunteer for our outreach activities?
Volunteer with us
We organise and attend events across the UK and Ireland bringing physics to new audiences. We’re always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to showcase experiments and convey their passion for physics to a wide range of people.