Society Awards

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Purpose

Society Awards are for ambitious and creative projects that engage people with developments in biomedical science on a regional or national scale.

Our aim is to encourage people of all ages and walks of life to learn about these developments and have an opportunity to consider, question and debate the implications and issues arising from such work. By inspiring, informing and involving whole communities, Society Awards enable people to consider and discuss issues that affect them, those close to them and the world in which they live.

Projects should aim to achieve at least one of the following:

  • stimulate interest, excitement and debate about biomedical science through various methods
  • examine the social, cultural, historical and ethical impact of biomedical science
  • encourage new ways of thinking about biomedical science.

Successful applications will have clearly communicated and deliverable goals, appropriate expertise and management on board, biomedical science at their core, and the potential for national rollout for both existing and new audiences.

If your proposed project has an artistic dimension, please also refer to our Arts Awards.

What's included

Society Awards are for amounts over £30 000, for a maximum of three years.

Please refer to our People Awards for projects of a similar nature that have budgets up to £30 000.

Eligibility

Applicants must be based in the UK or the Republic of Ireland and the activity must take place in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.

The scheme is open to anyone with a good idea for engaging people with developments in biomedical science. This might include: mediators and practitioners of science communication; science centre/museum staff; artists; educators; health professionals; and academics in bioscience, social science, bioethics and history.

Grants will normally be awarded through organisations, but individuals can apply.

Organisations might include: venues attracting large audiences (e.g. museums, cultural attractions or nature attractions); arts agencies; production companies; schools; local education authorities; universities; youth clubs; community groups; research institutes; the NHS; and science centres.

Partnership projects (between different people and organisations, e.g. scientists and ethicists, educators and artists) are welcomed.

Please note that standard health education and promotion projects, or projects dealing purely with non-biomedical sciences, are not eligible.

Large broadcast media projects are not eligible for consideration through the Society Awards. These projects can be considered through our Broadcast Strategy and the Large Broadcast Awards. Smaller broadcast media projects are eligible for funding either through the People Awards (for production costs) or the Broadcast Development Awards (for development costs)

Application process

Please contact the Society Awards office well in advance of the preliminary deadline to discuss a potential application.

You must complete and submit a preliminary application form [Word 156KB] by the published deadline.

You should refer to the application guidelines [PDF 68KB], Grant Conditions and evaluation guidelines [Word 170KB] before completing the form.

Forms should be returned by e-mail to society@wellcome.ac.uk in their native Word format.

Your preliminary application will be assessed by the Society Awards Committee. If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application (usually about two months after the preliminary deadline). Your full application should include fully worked-up details of the project, including:

  • its rationale, aims and objectives
  • details of the audience and marketing plans
  • implementation plans
  • expertise of the project team
  • financial information
  • evaluation strategy
  • potential risks
  • any other relevant information.

Your full application will be peer-reviewed by at least two independent reviewers, and you will be invited to respond to their comments.

You will then be asked to present your proposal to the Society Awards Committee. At this meeting, reviews and applicants' responses will be discussed and a funding decision will be made.

Information on recently funded Society Awards is available here.

Application advice

Previous projects have:

  • investigated and tested new methods of engagement, participation and education
  • enabled wider dissemination of successful methods of engagement
  • encourage high-quality interdisciplinary practice and collaborative partnerships
  • supported formal and informal learning about biomedical science
  • reached new audiences not normally engaged with biomedical science, as well as continuing to target existing audiences.

Projects must be scientifically sound and we look for scientific input either through a scientist taking on an advisory role or through direct collaboration. We fund over 6000 researchers across all disciplines of biomedical research, and we can help you source your expertise when putting together your application. Email researchers.pe@wellcome.ac.uk for further information.

Deadlines

The next deadline for preliminary applications is 2 April 2012.

Contacts

Society Awards
Wellcome Trust
Gibbs Building
215 Euston Road
London NW1 2BE, UK

T +44 (0)20 7611 8806
E society@wellcome.ac.uk

Wellcome Trust, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK T:+44 (0)20 7611 8888