The UBEL DTP currently has a small amount of funding (of up to £2,500 per application) through the ESRC Business Boost Programme to facilitate knowledge exchange between social science research and business (e.g. profit making including social enterprises) based in the UK. Preference will be given to applicants who can utilise the funding and report on the impact of the project/activity by the end of October 2019.

Please find additional information on the Expression of Interest Form and please note the following:

• The funds can be used for existing or new projects or activities such as: networking events, sandpits, workshops, meetings, the development of CPD short courses, setting up advisory boards, market testing and assessment, and UK travel expenses for UCL academics or postdocs (not for externals);
• Partner organisations are external, non-academic organisations who will participate in the project or activity with UBEL DTP project participants and will benefit from the potential outcomes of the project or activity. The activity can include public agencies and third sector organisations as well, but it is important that at least one business be included;
• The funds don’t cover public engagement;
• In exchange, funded projects agree that after the activity, they will participate in a case study coordinated by our partner, UCL Innovation & Enterprise, in order to report back on its impact to the ESRC, and to exploring ways in which we could further support.

We have limited funding available so it’s advised that you apply at your earliest convenience. We hope to have a quick turnaround process.

For further details or queries, please contact Prof Li Wei.

Postdoc Appreciation Week is a festival to celebrate UCL’s early stage research staff

16-20 September will mark UCL’s first ever Postdoc Appreciation Week to celebrate the hard work and dedication of UCL’s early stage research staff.

Learn more about the week on our website.

The week comprises of fun, informal and informative activities, including:

• Advanced research skills sessions
• Personal and professional development workshops
• Wellbeing events
• An unconference (theme: researcher experience)
• Family-friendly socialising
• Networking, useful resources and consultations
• Much more!

Postdoc Appreciation Week started in the United States. By participating for the first time in 2019, UCL OD are helping to internationalise the event and establish it more widely in the UK. Learn more about Postdoc Appreciation Week.

We are pleased to announce that the 2019/20 call for the UKRI Policy Internships Scheme is now open.

The Scheme provides the opportunity for doctoral students funded by the research councils of UK Research and Innovation to work for three months in one of a selected group of highly influential policy organisations. Students undertaking an internship through the Scheme will work on one or more policy topics relevant to both the student and their host organisation. They will be expected to produce at least one briefing paper, participate in a policy inquiry and/or organise a policy event, or equivalent piece of work.

The call closes on 12 August 2019.

Information on how to apply along with further details on host partners, funding and eligibility can be found at: https://www.ukri.org/skills/policy-internships-scheme/

Location: Wilkins Building, IAS Forum

(Centre for Multidisciplinary and Intercultural Inquiry / qUCL)

This evening ‘salon’ invites lively discussion and debate on the future of feminist activism in the UK today. The event will bring together speakers from grass-roots and third-sector organisations, politics and protest to share insights on working for gender equality. The aim of this informal, celebratory, networking event is to offer academics, practitioners, students and the public alike a range of innovative ideas for putting research into practice and taking action. All welcome.

Book your place – https://www.ucl.ac.uk/event-ticketing/booking?ev=18203

London-based ESRC Doctoral Training Partnerships Research Day

You are invited to

Social science to serve society: communicating research to make an impact

Join us on Friday June 7th at Friends House in Central London to celebrate social science research from the  ESRC London Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs).

This one-day event is packed with tailored sessions for PhD students to help your research make an IMPACT by connecting and communicating with policy makers and influencers. This event is also a great chance to meet and exchange ideas with your doctoral peers from across all of the London ESRC DTPs.

You can also enter our poster competition – an opportunity to showcase your research, practice your presentation skills and win one of 4 prizes (see the attached flyer for more details):

• Best poster:  1st prize £100, 2nd prize £50
• Best presentation: 1st prize £100, 2nd prize £50

Sign up to the event and register to submit a poster here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/social-science-to-serve-society-communicating-research-to-make-an-impact-tickets-58067419214

Head to the website for more details about the programme:

https://socsciresearchday2019.wordpress.com/

Highlights from the day

• Hear from our keynote speaker, Professor Danny Dorling from the University of Oxford, who’s asking, apart from climate change, is social science helping everything else get better?
• Participate in interactive panel discussions on communicating your work to achieve the most impact
• Learn how to navigate different disciplines within social science with Professor Noortje Marres
• Listen to experts explaining how social science can overcome public communication issues and the critique of experts
• Free coffees, lunch and drinks reception, tote bags and lunch boxes for all attendees!