ScotPEN Wellcome Engagement Award: Phase 2

High quality public engagement by Wellcome researchers will be enable by open-call funding combined with responsive training and support - drawing on expertise and brokerage from institutional PEPs and the wider Scottish Public Engagement Network (ScotPEN). This project extends the successful collaborative ScotPEN Wllecome Enrichment Award (Phase 1 ) to allocation Wellcome Research Enrichment for Public Engagement funding in Scotland.

As well as increasing the quantity and quality of applications to the scheme, the activities, relationships, and resources generated across the two phases will strengthen the culture of engagement within and between Scottish institutions and extend relationships between researchers, PEPs, partner organisations, and communities within Scotland and beyond.
Building on the success of Phase 1, where 12 proposals were awarded funding of £463,670, we will:
(1) Add a new management post to support capacity building both for SWEA and ScotPEN development.
(2) Provide responsive pre- and post-award support tailored to the needs of awardees and prospective applicants.

(3) Strengthen Phase 1 partnership development with organisations including the Scottish science centres and community groups.
(4) Include Public Engagement Professionals (PEPs) more explicitly in our training offer – helping increase their visibility and capacity to progress culture change.