Applications for the 2026 British Science Festival Award Lectures are now closed. Applications for BSF27 will open in November 2026.
The Award Lectures is a development opportunity for early career research to explore the social impacts of their work, develop public speaking skills and engage with new audiences.
The Award Lectures aim to promote open and informed discussions about contemporary issues in science to a diverse and non-specialist audience. Our target audiences include young people aged 16 – 30 and those who are underrepresented in science. Our Award Lectures also present opportunities for these groups to see themselves represented in science, inspiring aspiration and inclusion.
The British Science Association has been championing promising early career scientists for over 30 years, many of whom are now successful science communicators. Previous Award Lecturers include household names including Brian Cox, Richard Wiseman and Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
Awards are available in seven different areas and seek to highlight the interdisciplinarity of science, research and innovation
- Agricultural, biological and medical sciences
- Digital innovation
- Engineering, technology and industry
- Environmental sciences
- Physical sciences and mathematics
- Science and the arts
- Social sciences
Award Lecture applicants should be:
- Active early career researchers producing original and high quality work (see our FAQs for our definition of early career researcher)
- Passionate about communicating their research to the wider public, particularly our target audiences
- Working at, or with, a UK-based University
- Available to present their Award Lecture during the British Science Festival which will be held in Southampton from Wednesday 16 – Sunday 20 September 2026, hosted by the University of Southampton.
The selected Award Lecturers will receive the following:
- £250 honorarium
- Free public engagement training from an expert in our London office or other London based venue, with travel expenses covered
- Travel to and from the Festival, as well as up to two nights of accommodation during the Festival
Please note, travel can only be covered within the UK, no international travel can be expensed. Non UK residents may apply so long as they are working with a UK-based University, however, these applicants must be able to provide valid proof of right to work in the UK.
We encourage you to discuss your ideas with us before submitting your proposal. Please do read the below FAQs and get in touch with [email protected] to discuss your application or ask any questions you may have.
See the full list of Award Lectures since 1990.
Full details of the 2025 Award Lecturers can be found here www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/british-science-festival-2025-award-lecturers-announced
Find out more about what it’s like to be an Award Lecturer with the British Science Festival in this blog from our British Science Festival Science and the Arts Award Lecturer 2023, Alice Thickett, here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What do you mean by ‘early career researcher’?
The BSA understands that researchers take different career paths, so the term ‘early career researcher’ is deliberately vague. Generally, we define ‘early career researchers’ as having less than 5 years’ unbroken / continuous post-doctoral research experience or equivalent; however, there is space in the form to explain how applicants with more than five years’ experience qualify as early career researchers. We do not automatically exclude applicants with more experience. We have also rewarded exceptional PhD students in previous years.
Are you looking for experienced communicators?
It is important to us that our Award Lecturers are passionate about communicating their work to public audiences. We are not looking for extensive experience speaking to large audiences; however, applicants should provide examples of their involvement in public engagement activities. We offer training to all our Award Lecturers and support them to develop their event.
What academic qualifications and experience are you looking for?
We are looking for early career researchers (see our definition above) that have a track record of high-quality research. Applicants must be undertaking original research in their field. We do not specifically grade applications based on numbers of papers published, however significant publications and other evidence of professional experience are viewed favourably.
Can I apply if I live overseas?
You are welcome to apply from overseas so long as you are working with a UK based University. This could be as part of a programme, collaboration or a remote working project. However, we cannot cover travel expenses for travel between the UK and other countries. We can only cover travel expenses for UK travel.
Non-UK residents who apply must have the appropriate status to visit and work in the UK.
About the application process
How do I submit a proposal?
Applications for the 2026 British Science Festival are now closed. Applications for 2027 will open in November 2026.
I am interested in being an Award Lecturer, can I put myself forward?
As you are the person who ultimately knows your work best, you should complete the application yourself. However, we do request a supporting statement written by another person as part of the application process.
Who should write my supporting statement?
We do not have strict restrictions on who is eligible to write this supporting statement; however, you should choose someone who knows your work well such as an academic supervisor or a public engagement officer at your institution.
About the lecture
I’m unsure which Award Lecture category my work fits into?
We view interdisciplinary work favourably and understand that many researchers are working in areas that may fit into more than one of the Award Lecture categories. If you are unsure, please get in touch with Louise Cooke. The same panel reviews all Award Lecture applications, so if we feel that your work fits better in another category it will automatically be considered.
What kind of content are you looking for?
We encourage applicants to propose a lecture based on their own research, with consideration of the wider social content. The Award Lectures aim to promote open and informed discussion on issues involving science and actively encourage early career scientists to explore the social impact of their research. We are looking for evidence that the researcher has considered the audience (see below) and how best to engage them with the topic. We do not want a potted history of your area of research to the present day but more about how your work is contributing to an area of science and the problems in society that it is addressing.
When and where will my event take place?
We anticipate the overall programme each day to start as early as 10.00 and finish as late as 22.30 from Wednesday 16 – Sunday 20 September 2026. The start time of the Award Lectures will depend on which part of the wider BSF26 programme it is scheduled under (e.g. daytime events, evening takeovers etc).
What kind of audience should my event be aimed at?
The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be appropriate for an adult (16+ audience).
The target audience for the programme is:
- Non-specialist young adults (16-30), particularly from underserved and underrepresented groups in science:
- Those with broad interest in science but don’t actively seek to engage with it
- Those who might not self-identify as interested in science, but who are interested in cultural experiences (e.g., music, tech, films, fashion etc) or are affected by a particular field of science (e.g., mental health in farmers, accessibility tech etc)”
Please note that the British Science Festival does not provide content for children or families.
What length should my event be?
Award Lectures should be a maximum of one-hour long including any Q&A.
General
What are the benefits of being an Award Lecturer?
As well as presenting a prestigious Award Lecture at the British Science Festival, winners will receive a £250 honorarium and public engagement training.
Award Lecturers will also have expenses covered for UK travel and accommodation (up to two nights) for attendance at the British Science Festival 2026 as well as travel to and from the public engagement training. Please note that accommodation will not be covered for the public engagement training. Please note that subsistence and international travel will not be covered.
What is the date and location of the Festival?
The Festival will take place in Southampton from Wednesday 16 – Sunday 20 September 2026 and will be hosted by the University of Southampton. It will take place in venues across Southampton, including the University campus.
Will you support the development of my event?
We are very happy to advise on content and format and help translate your research into an engaging event. To discuss your ideas prior to submitting a proposal please contact Louise Cooke.
If your proposal is successful, Award Lecturers will also:
- have 121 sessions with a member of the Festival team to help you finalise the details of your idea
- be invited to a face-to-face Public Engagement coaching day in the summer of 2026 at a tbc venue in London.
Please be aware that you are responsible for ensuring that any event you propose is developed by spring, in time for the Festival programme to go live.
Will journalists be invited to my event?
There is a strong media presence at the Festival. If accepted, we will ask for more detailed information about you that will be provided to the media.
Questions in the application form
This is a summary of the questions you will be asked in the proposal form. Please read through these before completing the form to help you prepare your answers.
Your details
This section helps us understand you.
The questions include basic information such as name, organisation, contact details and the following questions:
- If you have more than five years post-doctoral research experience, please explain how you fit the description of an early career researcher. 150 words.
- Do you have public liability insurance or are you covered by your institution/organisation? We need confirmation that all speakers are covered.
About you
This section provides more detailed information about your career, prior public engagement experience and your reasons for putting yourself forward for the Award.
- Please briefly list your academic and professional qualifications. Max 150 words
- Please briefly describe your career path so far. Include details of any significant publications and other evidence of professional competence. 200 words
- Do you have public engagement experience? Please include links to any examples e.g. video, website, blogs. 150 words
- Why are you nominating yourself for this Award? Max 250 words.
Supporting statement
This section helps us understand the person supporting your application. The questions include basic information such as name, organisation, contact details as well as the following question:
- Why are you supporting this application? 250 words.
About the lecture
This section provides more detailed information on the proposed lecture.
Please use this section to develop the proposed talk. This should be about cutting-edge research the applicant is involved with and not an overview of a topic. Think about how to demonstrate the societal impact (or possible future impact) of the research, and possible audience interaction or simple illustrative demos.
Which Award Lecture category does your lecture fit into?
- Please suggest a draft title. 10 words
- Please suggest a blurb. 150 words
- Please describe the content of the lecture. Please include a description of the research, what elements will be particularly highlighted during the talk and the impact the research has/may have on society. 250 words
- What format will the lecture take? Please describe how you will engage the audience with their presentation (including interactive activities or simple demos)? 150 words.
The remaining questions are to confirm the following points:
- That you understand the event should be a maximum of 60 minutes, including time for questions from the audience
- That you understand that only UK travel can be expensed. Subsistence and accommodation for the training day will not be covered
- If your event is accepted, you will need to fill out a risk assessment and provide us with detailed logistics information, including confirmation of public liability insurance, in advance of the Festival
- What days of the Festival you are available.
If you have any other questions, or if you would like to discuss your proposal, please contact Louise Cooke, who will be able to advise on content, format, general Festival-related queries etc.