Public engagement special: Science stand-up comedy, BSA Award Lectures, photographing Cern, institutional know-how

This week we take a look at public engagement with research from a variety of angles. Steve Cross, a pioneer of science comedy, tells us how a lighthearted approach can help forge a connection with the general public. We speak to two winners of the British Science Association’s prestigious Award Lectures scheme and the academic who won a grant from the STFC to produce a photo-ethnography of Cern staff. We also hear how Queen’s University Belfast developed its public engagement plan.

This week in Funding Insight

Could science be in need of a dash of humour to help it out of the labs and out among the public who helped fund it? Comedy performer, producer and promoter Steve Cross thinks so and tells Ben Upton how researchers can raise their repartee.