During the application process, all researchers are supported by the Public Engagement Seed Awards team who helps them to design their projects and write an application. Successful awardees are then offered an individual session with the Seed Award coordinator to develop an implementation and evaluation plan.

Calls for applications are issued twice a year and a panel, including external engagement experts, review applications.

Criteria to be considered by the panel:

• The feasibility of project proposals
• The quality of engagement activities and outputs
• The relevance to OUCRU research.
• How delivering the project would develop the researchers’ skills
• The potential to plan more engagement around their research in the future.

Those who are successful in their application are then invited to quarterly meetings for all award holders.

These meetings are an opportunity for discussion around engagement topics and skills training needed for conducting public engagement and include topics such as how community engagement can benefit your research, setting up a community advisory board, and community inclusive evaluation processes

These meetings also provide a valuable networking opportunity for researchers who have the same interest in public engagement.