Open Call for Proposals, British Science Festival

We are now accepting event* proposals for the British Science Festival 2025. To apply, please complete the proposal form by 23.59 on Monday 20 January 2025.  

The British Science Festival will take place across the city of Liverpool from the 10 – 14 September 2025, and will be hosted in partnership by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University. 

Anyone can propose an event. We are inviting artists, researchers, community activists, critical thinkers, industry partners, charities and beyond- from across disciplinary backgrounds- to submit proposals events, activities or installations. 

The British Science Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense. The programme showcases cutting-edge science, technology and ideas that challenge, inspire and excite audiences. Each year, thousands of people come together to celebrate the latest developments in research and to engage in open discussion about issues affecting our culture and society. 

* While our primary focus is on events programming, we are also keen on programming public installations and welcome proposals that could be hosted throughout the festival in site-specific locations like shopping centres, public buildings and town squares. Please get in touch with us if you have specific questions about opportunities for installations. 

The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be tailored to an adult (16+) audience.  

The target audience for the programme is: 

• Non-specialist young adults (16-30 years old), particularly from groups underserved and underrepresented 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, technology, films, fashion etc) or have a personal connection to a particular field of science (e.g., gardening, sports, mental health, accessibility technology, etc) 

We particularly welcome creative content that challenges perceptions of what science is and can be. We anticipate that the majority of events in the 2025 programme will use a range of  participatory formats and will take place outside of a traditional lecture-theatre setting. We will programme a limited number of talks and panel discussions.  

To submit a proposal for an event please complete the proposal form. The deadline for Open Call applications is 23.59 on Monday 20 January 2025. 

Before developing and submitting your proposal, we highly encourage you to read our FAQs below. 

If you wish to prepare your answers before submitting your form, you can download a Word copy here: https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=74751bf5-03a9-40ca-be5c-bbde5fcf740e
We cannot accept filled-in versions of this Word copy as event proposal submissions. Event proposals need to be submitted via the MS Forms link above.

Please contact us if you are having tech or accessibility issues with the link or would like to submit your responses using an alternative format, outside of this platform. 

If you have any other questions, or if you would like to discuss your proposal, please email festival@britishscienceassociation.org.  

Open Call Frequently Asked Questions 

Here you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about proposing an event for the British Science Festival 2025 and will help you to shape your idea into a successful proposal.    

The FAQs includes guidance about the content and format of events and information on Festival logistics. If you have any other questions, or if you would like to discuss your proposal, please get in contact with us, and a member of the team will be able to advise on content, format, general Festival-related queries etc.  

What is the date and location of the Festival?   

The British Science Festival will take place across the city of Liverpool from the 10 – 14 September 2025, and will be hosted in partnership by the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University. Exact venues and locations will be selected and confirmed in Spring of 2025. In previous years, we have hosted events in cultural venues, shopping centres, community venues and university campuses.    

We are keen on programming beyond the university campus space and welcome proposals that could be hosted outdoors or in other public spaces. We will work with successful proposals to ensure all events/activities/installations are programmed into an appropriate venue. 

What time 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. The start time and duration of each event will depend on its format, as well as which part of the wider British Science Festival programme it is scheduled under (e.g. daytime events, evening takeovers etc). There will be an option to repeat your event across multiple days, if this is of interest. You will be asked to indicate your availability in the proposal form.  

What kind of audience should my event be aimed at?   

The Festival is free and open to all, but content should be tailored to an adult (16+) audience.   

The target audience for the programme is:  

• Non-specialist young adults (16-30 years old), particularly from underserved and underrepresented groups in science 

• Those with a 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, technology, films, fashion etc) or have a personal connection to a particular field of science (e.g., gardening, sports, mental health, accessibility technology, etc)  

Please note that the British Science Festival does not programme events specifically designed for children, schools pre-16, or families.   

Do I have to be a scientist to propose an event?   

No, anyone can propose an event and the Festival celebrates science in its broadest sense. We invite proposals from artists, researchers, community activists, critical thinkers, industry partners, charities and beyond- from across disciplinary backgrounds. 

What length should my event be?   

Event duration is flexible depending on the format and we are open to suggestions. Talks and panel discussions must be no longer than one hour. We suggest getting in contact with us to discuss your ideas prior to submitting your proposal.   

Is there budget available?  

The British Science Festival has a limited pot of funding available for selected events. We prioritise funding for events which work with communities underrepresented in science and are led by freelance or unwaged practitioners. 

We encourage proposal applicants to pursue alternative funding opportunities where possible. 

Please contact us if British Science Festival funding is essential to the delivery of your event. 

Can I get sponsorship or fundraise for my event?   

Please contact us before applying for any sponsorship or fundraising to discuss the possibilities. 

What kind of content are you looking for?   

We are looking for events, activities and installations that showcase cutting-edge science, celebrate the latest developments in science and technology and engage their audience in open discussion about relevant issues that affect culture and society. We welcome creative content that challenges perceptions of what science is and can be. The event you propose can be a new idea, in-development or evolved for another presentation or existing events that are ready to go. 

We’re looking for proposals that span a diverse range of subjects encompassing science in the broadest sense and welcome applications from all disciplines including STEM subjects, social science, arts and humanities. We are looking for thought provoking events that offer new perspectives on scientific topics and stimulate discussion. We love humour, provocation, speculation, and unexpected ideas that entertain people first and then start a conversation. We value projects that are simple in their invitation, opening the door for complex debate and ongoing enquiry. The British Science Festival is all about making science relevant, representative and connected to society and we’d like to see that reflected in your content. 

While our primary focus is on events programming, we are keen on programming public installations and welcome proposals that could be hosted throughout the festival in site-specific locations like shopping centres, public buildings, town squares. Please get in touch with us if you have specific questions about opportunities for installations.  

Newsworthy content will be viewed favourably.   

What type of events are you looking for?   

In this call for proposals, we are primarily looking for events that take participatory formats that could take place outside of a traditional lecture-theatre setting. Participatory formats allow us to engage audiences who would not typically go to a traditional science event. We will be providing plenty of support in creating and forming those events (please see below). We especially encourage proposals that involve research working or partnering with community groups, particularly those local to Liverpool.  

We will be able to consider a small number of proposals for talks, only where there is a particular reason why this would be the most appropriate format (e.g. the researcher will be addressing a particularly sensitive subject matter), so please make sure to clearly outline your reasoning if you submit a proposal for a talk. 

What do you mean by ‘participatory formats’?   

We welcome proposals for events that allow and encourage festival audiences to engage with content in a variety of meaningful ways, whether by having the opportunity to have a two-way conversation with academics, getting hands on with research through tactile exhibits or interactive workshops, or otherwise immersing themselves in the proposed content. The festival takes a multi-disciplinary approach and in previous years, festival events have included drop-in activities, fitness classes, creative workshops, stand-up, musical performances, live experiments, walking tours and games, as well as many other formats.   

Here are a few examples of different event formats from previous years:

• Decolonising Medicine: Travelling Through Time 
  Explore the hidden narratives of medical knowledge and its entanglement with colonialism and injustice. Musarrat Maisha Reza reveals the untold stories that shape our understanding. Join the conversation and envision a future of equitable healthcare systems.

• The World Turned Upside Down 
  Immerse yourself in the transformative power of theatre and research with ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ documentary. Witness the journey of a play inspired by dementia research, followed by a Q&A with the team behind it, chaired by Dr Catherine Charlwood from the University of Exeter. 

• Sculptural snogging beyond the binary
  This creative workshop will delve into the art and science of our mouths, kissing, sexual health and what it means to live beyond binary genders. Working with Simon Hall, Artist and GP from the University of Bristol, you’ll create both digital and physical sculptures and modify them to reflect your perception of gender.

• Mudder on the seafloor 
  Explore the hidden wonders beneath the ocean’s surface. Join the Convex Seascape Survey for a hands-on adventure in the mud, discovering fascinating marine life and its impact on the environment. Enjoy sea-inspired cocktails and unleash your creativity with colorful mud art. 

• Imagining new possibilities for a liveable future 
  What would a more sustainable, healthy and socially just world look like? Join the University of Exeter’s Cecilia Manusa Nyblon and Sally Flint to unleash your imagination through community, collaboration, and creative writing.

• Spit Game 
  Experience the power of artistic expression with Benjamin Turner and The Spit Game crew. Through live performances and videos, they tackle societal issues and celebrate creativity while highlighting challenges faced by young Black artists.

• The Happy Shop 
  Explore Rosa Pascual’s Happy Shop, a fictional emporium of customised wishes, thoughts and emotions. Uncover the neuroscience behind happiness, body image and identity, and delve into the role of dopamine in shaping our beliefs. 

Will you support the development of my event?   

We are happy to advise on the details of your event so that it’s appropriate for the British Science Festival audience and aims. To discuss your ideas prior to submitting a proposal please email our festival inbox, and a member of the team will be able to advise on content, format, general Festival-related queries etc. 

While we will support your event development, please be aware that you are responsible for finding co-facilitators/speakers for your event and ensuring that any events you propose are fully organised by spring 2025, in time for the Festival programme to go live.   

If your proposal is successful, you will also: 

• have one to one sessions with a member of the Festival team to help you finalise the details of your idea 

• be sent a speakers form, logistics form and risk assessment to fill out. Your event cannot go ahead without completion of these documents. 

As part of the festival programme, we will also support with the promotion of your event through our comms and marketing plan.  

When is the deadline for applications? 

The deadline for Open Call applications is 23.59 on Monday 20 January 2025. 

When will I find out if my event has been accepted? 

We will be in touch shortly after the proposal’s deadline.    

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 your speakers that will be provided to the media.  

Is accommodation provided?   

No, you will need to organise this yourself, but we can provide you with a list of local hotels with preferential rates.  

Is travel provided?  

No, if you are based outside of Liverpool, you will need to organise your own travel.

What onsite assistance will I receive during the Festival?   

Refreshments will be available during the Festival. Festival staff will assist with the operation of your event, including AV support, queue management and distribution of Festival evaluation forms.   

Please note that our staff members will not be able to help you facilitate your event’s content; you will need to source your own assistants/volunteers for hands-on help with the event’s activities.   

The British Science Festival will not:  

• Support on-the-day delivery of your event’s content. While we will ensure that the pre-agreed infrastructure is in place and that there’s staff on hand to help with crowd management and logistical trouble-shooting, we are unable to be involved with the direct delivery of your event’s content. You will need to make your own arrangements if you require staffing support for the set up and delivery of your event.   

• Source/produce every item you need for your event and take over the planning of all the logistical aspects of your event, beyond the reasonable infrastructure available at each venue. We will talk about responsibilities when we meet, but you will be expected to look after the production of non-standard requirements for your event. 

How do I submit a proposal?   

Please complete the proposal form by 23.59 on Monday 20 January 2025. 

If you wish to prepare your answers before submitting your form, you can download a Word copy here: https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=74751bf5-03a9-40ca-be5c-bbde5fcf740e
We cannot accept filled-in versions of this Word copy as event proposal submissions. Event proposals need to be submitted via the MS Forms link above.

Please contact us if you are having tech or accessibility issues with the link or would like to submit your responses using an alternative format, outside of this platform. 

What is the Festival’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)?  

The Festival is organised by the British Science Association (BSA). The BSA’s vision is a future where science is more relevant, representative, and connected to society. For the BSA’s vision to come to fruition, we need to see science relating to those from all areas of society, including those who are currently least engaged. We need to be able to engage with people in groups that are poorly represented in science, and that’s why EDI will be central to our activities.    

We recognise that in many settings, at the BSA and beyond, EDI can be seen as an add-on or ‘fix’ to the regular work. Our aim is for EDI to be the heart of everything we do. For more information about the BSA’s EDI commitment, find out about our 10 year strategy and our EDI objectives for the next 10 years.