BES Outreach and Engagement Grants

BES Outreach and Engagement Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: British Ecological Society (BES)
Amount: Up to £2,000
Last Updated: March 30, 2026

Summary

The BES Outreach and Engagement Grants provide funding up to £2,000 for individuals and organizations to engage the public with ecological science. These grants aim to enhance public understanding and appreciation of ecology through innovative outreach activities. Projects should demonstrate direct interaction with non-academic audiences and may cover costs such as travel, marketing, and venue hire. The initiative encourages diverse formats that inspire impactful engagement and foster ecological solutions for global challenges.

Overview

About Us Founded over a century ago, the BES was the first Society in the world committed to understanding our earth through ecology, the science studying the relationship between living things and their environment. That commitment remains today with a global community spanning 120 countries and a strategic mission to find ecological solutions for a planet under threat. With the scientific foundation of our seven world-class journals, the BES has a unique ability to convene the ecological community – bringing the right people together to seek solutions for some of the most pressing challenges of our time. In particular, we support policymakers and business by providing the evidence needed to ensure scientifically robust outcomes. Outreach and engagement grants Providing funding of up to £2,000 for individuals, teams and organisations to engage public audiences with the excitement of ecological science. Engaging public audiences with the relevance and importance of ecological science and careers is vital. This grant will support BES members to deliver independent outreach, public engagement and science communication activities that engage public audiences with the excitement, importance and relevance of ecological science or enhance the experience and skills of others to communicate ecology with public audiences. The grant will support diverse formats that reach and engage public audiences in innovative, creative and impactful ways, whether through in-person events, digital formats, or physical resources. All Grants must be for projects that meet at least one of the top-level BES aims: Communicate evidence-based messaging for what ecology is, how nature works, and the use of ecological science as a solution to local and global challenges. Raise awareness and public understanding of ecological careers, their relevance and importance, breadth, and diversity, and show that anybody can become an ecologist. Share how individuals can take action to benefit the environment, themselves, and society. Increase the ability of others to deliver the above aims through outreach and engagement activities. Value The maximum award is £2,000. However, the award may be used as part-funding for larger projects involving other sponsors. If the BES grant is being used to part-fund a project, there must be a guarantee that other funding has already been secured. If other funding has been secured for this project, the additional BES funding should add a distinctive element/activity that would not happen otherwise that will greatly enhance the outreach activities, including increased engagement and impact. Examples of costs that can be covered Travel costs. Small equipment and IT costs. Marketing. One-off hiring costs (e.g. a freelancer to deliver an activity, a logo designer). Venue hire. Evaluation costs.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The lead applicant must have a BES membership. The lead applicant should be the person who will oversee the project delivery and complete the final report.Projects should be a maximum of 12 months.Awards are open to individuals, teams and organisations across all experience levels to organise ecological public engagement events. Collaborations between two or more people are also welcome.Your proposal must be aimed at a non-academic audience, and all projects must clearly demonstrate direct interaction with them. They should also show evidence of links to the research community at regional, national and international levels, where appropriate.There are no restrictions on where applicants come from nor where they carry out their outreach and engagement work.Applications from museums and schools are welcome, but projects must involve significant outreach beyond schools.For repeat, annual events that request funding more than once – the Grants Committee would only consider this if the project showed new novel ideas and development on the previous application You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member. The lead applicant must have a BES membership.

Ineligibility

Applications will NOT be considered for:Staff salaries(one-off costs that are relevant to completing the event e.g. sub-contracting for logo design, will be considered).Training courses not associated with developing skills in communicating the science of ecology for a public-facing audience.Projects aimed solely at delivering curriculum to school children.Projects that are delivered to a small number (1-2) schools in a school setting where other members of the public can’t engage.We will not award more than one grant to any applicant in any year and no more than three grants in any five years. Failure to submit a satisfactory report at the end of a grant will mean you are ineligible to apply for further grants.