Edinburgh Beltane - Beacon for Public Engagement

A joint initiative by The University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, Napier University, University of Highlands and Islands, Edinburgh College of Art, Queen Margaret University and others

http://www.edinburghbeltane.net/

The Edinburgh Beltane - Beacon for Public Engagement is a four year project led by the University of Edinburgh, but has an extensive range of partners. Named after the spring festival when different communities would come together and matchmaking would take place, the Edinburgh Beltane partnership is based on existing collaborations in public engagement (PE) activities amongst its members. The combination of academic research institutes and public engagement experts in the partners bode well for exciting events and activities for the public involvement in cutting edge research.

The aim of all the Beacons for Public Engagement is to bring about a change in the culture of Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) so that research findings are shared in a meaningful way with the public. In addition the Edinburgh Beltane is working with the theme of encouraging citizen participation and understanding of areas of research relevant to public policy such as health and life sciences, energy and the environment.

Funding details

Funding is available to Beltane partner organisations in the form of the Public Engagement Challenge, from early 2009. Edinburgh Beltane Public Engagement Fellowships are also available. Early to mid career academic and research staff from the six HEI partners are invited to put their names forward for consideration for a part time (20%) secondment for up to 6 months to the Edinburgh Beltane - Beacon for Public Engagement.