Nucleus Public Engagement Awards 2026

The Nucleus Public Engagement Awards support high-quality programmes of public engagement that inspire and involve target audiences with stories of STFC science, technology and facilities. The programme is designed to help grant holders undertake engagement activities or increase capacity for STFC-focused public engagement in applying institutions or appropriate communities of practice. Projects must demonstrate clear links to the STFC funded remit, which includes astronomy, particle physics, nuclear physics, accelerator science, and related fields. Applications may focus on engagement programmes, network and capacity building programmes, or a combination of both. The awards particularly encourage projects that work with the Wonder Initiative's target audience - those from the 40% most socio-economically deprived areas of the UK, especially eight to 14-year-olds and their families. All projects must include a subject matter expert in an STFC funded remit area and demonstrate how they further the aims of the STFC public engagement strategy. Projects must be between 24 and 36 months in duration and include detailed evaluation plans aligned with the STFC public engagement evaluation framework.