ERC: Public Engagement with Research Award 2020

The European Research Council’s (ERC) Public Engagement with Research Award 2020 is designed to recognize and celebrate ERC grantees who have demonstrated excellence in public engagement and outreach.

ERC grantees have a contractual obligation to communicate their project and many of them are outstanding science communicators.

The ERC would like to recognise those who engage with audiences outside their domain to communicate their research funded by the European Union.

For the purpose of this award the ERC understands “Public Engagement with Research” to mean the many ways that the public can be involved in the design, conduct or dissemination of the research process.

Researchers can choose to engage with the public for: 

• Communication: to inform and inspire the public about research. 
• Consultation: for projects that have engaged in two-way conversations about research and listened to public views.
• Collaboration: for research projects that have involved collaborating with the public, including co-creation, co-production of knowledge and citizen science.

Only one application can be submitted per ERC funded research project.

One winner will be selected in each of the following categories:

1. Public outreach
2. Press and media relations
3. Online and social media

The prize for each winner includes a trophy, complimentary registration to the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 2020, reimbursement for reasonable travel and hotel expenses for attending the award ceremony and visibility at the award ceremony. In addition, winning projects will be featured prominently in the ERC communication channels, expanding the visibility of the projectl, for several months after the award.

The application shall be submitted via the online application form no later than 10 January 2020, 17:00 CET.

The European Research Council plans to announce the winners of the three categories at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in Trieste in July 2020.