BES Inspiring Ecology Fund

Overview

The Inspiring Ecology Fund (IEF) accept submissions in two formats:

• ‘Open Call’: Applications are open for submissions year-round. However, a limited annual pot of funds are available and thus we cannot guarantee that applications received later in the calendar year can be fully funded.
• ‘Closed Call’: Other thematic ‘closed call’ submissions will also be advertised, with given criteria and deadlines for applications. Only applications meeting these criteria will be considered. Full details and notifications of ‘closed calls’ can be found on the IEF Webpage, the BES Newsletter, BES Public Engagement Newsletter, and BES Twitter and Facebook.

Objectives

To support the BES Strategic Plan 2020 – 2023, the BES Public Engagement Strategy outlines their aims and principles for communicating the importance and excitement of ecology with public audiences:

“We will engage diverse public audiences with ecological science and careers”

• Messaging: They will communicate the excitement and relevance of ecological science to fascinate, enthuse, and through education and awareness empower public audiences
• Target audiences: They will engage a wide range of audiences, but focus our activities on reaching their priority public groups
• Accessibility: They will provide opportunities for 'lifelong learning' through content and experiences that are inclusive and accessible to all
• Platforms: They will use a diverse range of platforms to best reach and engage with their public audiences in innovative, creative and impactful ways

The Inspiring Ecology Fund particularly encourages applications that achieve the following:

• Support BES members new to conducting public engagement and science communication
• Pilot novel methods of communicating with public audiences, particularly when engagement may inform behavioural change or encourage ecological career prospects
• Add ecological impact to existing projects or events lacking such content
• Encourage interdisciplinary collaborations
• Production of digital and physical engagement materials others can subsequently use
• Facilitates training that enables others to communicate with public audience

Funded Activities

The list below includes a non-exhaustive selection of activities suitable for funding. Activities not listed will be considered if they meet the strategic aims of the Society and Fund outlined above.

• Events and digital projects: e.g. stand fees or venue hire costs, material costs, travel / accommodation / subsistence support for volunteers, materials costs, video/ audio recording or web hosting costs, marketing and promotion materials, hiring of digital production experts, hiring of contractors.
• Training others: e.g. travel, accommodation and subsistence support for attendees or speakers, catering costs, materials costs, day-rate fees for training providers, venue hire costs, training resource production, video/ audio recording or web hosting costs.
• Resource production: hiring of digital production experts, purchasing or renting of equipment to produce resources, printing and production costs.
• Reactively support projects that take advantage of public engagement opportunities

Eligibility

Applications contravening any single criterion below will be rejected upon receipt. You may reapply once you have resolved the highlighted issue.

• Only BES members are eligible to apply
• One or more ecologists must be involved in leading the project. This can include current or past students, researchers, practitioners.
• For ‘open call’ applications, only individuals based within the UK are eligible. Applications from individuals outside of the UK will occasionally be accepted for closed calls; please check the Inspiring Ecology Fund webpage for criteria for each closed call as they open.
• For ‘open call’ applications, only projects whose target audiences are primarily UK residents are eligible (‘closed call applicants can accept applications from individuals outside of the UK where clearly stated in criteria)

Projects must be completed and evaluation report produced within 12 months of the application date.

Assessment

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Ability to meet one or more of the BES Public Engagement Strategic Aims and aims of the Inspiring Ecology Fund (listed above)
• Clarity of the Application Form including clear details of budgeting and evaluation processes
• The level of impact relative to investment requested from the Inspiring Ecology Fund

The BES Public Engagement Working Group has been established to guide the development and implementation of the Society’s public engagement strategy and programme, and manages applications to the Inspiring Ecology Fund.

After an initial decision has been made, PEWG may provide feedback on an application and request that responses be provided by the applicant before a final decision can be made. The feedback response process can further extend the time period between initial application and potential funding, therefore applicants are advised to submit applications as far in advance of an intended project’s start date as possible.

All efforts will be made to provide an initial decision within 4 weeks, but that this is dependent on the number of applications received at any one time.

Applications open: COP15 and COP26 Continued Engagement Programme

With two major events in 2021, COP15 on biodiversity and COP26 on climate, there is a great need to capitalise on the momentum created, and continue efforts to engage public audiences in the vital ecological issues raised.

The BES is now accepting applications for funding support to ensure continued engagement.

The funding will work on a first-come first-served basis, subject to meeting funding eligibility and assessment of criteria for the overall suitability and impact of the project.

The funding will be able to support:

• Supporting novel resource and activity development and delivery including engagement materials, digital and in-person events, and other methods of working or communicating with public audiences
• Delivery of training and capacity building events and resources in public engagement and science communication for ecologists and those wanting to share ecological science
• Community support work empowering public groups to deliver activities and events communicating the value of ecological science
• Printing and distribution of existing engagement materials for handing out in clearing defined and pre-agreed ways (i.e. not just printing and storing for unknown future uses).
• Expansion of pre-planned and confirmed engagement activities and events (i.e. increasing the quality and impact of or adding additional ecological components to existing work)

A preference will be shown for activities that provide clear links to ecological issues explored within COP15 and COP26 events. However, applications will be considered for projects and use of funds that more widely support the delivery of ecological science engagement activities with publics.