Launch of the Public Engagement with Research Award of the European Research Council

Today, the European Research Council (ERC) launched the second contest for the ERC Public Engagement with Research Award, following a successful pilot competition in 2020. The aim is to recognise ERC grantees who have demonstrated excellence in engaging with audiences beyond their domain and in communicating their research funded by the European Union. The three awards, worth €10,000 each, will be endowed to those scientists that have been most successful in involving the public with the design, conduct or dissemination of activities funded by the ERC, in areas spanning from vaccines to climate change, and more. Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “Europeans are more and more interested in science. And over 50% of them, according to a recent Eurobarometer, think that scientists need to engage better with the public. ERC grantees can help meet this expectation and bring their research closer to citizens. Their engagement will be crucial if we want to effectively face current and future challenges in public health, climate change and digital transformation. I hope more scientists will be inspired and follow in their footsteps.” ERC grantees are eligible to enter the competition. The deadline to submit entries is 3 February 2022 and the winners will be announced during the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in July 2022. More information is available in this ERC press release.