Project description
Celebrating cultural heritage and innovation
The EU-funded FUTURES project organised two nights of activities in the cities of Bristol and Bath in 2018 and 2019. The events showcased the impact of researchers' work, exciting innovations and links with local cultural heritage in the Southwest of England. The project connected diverse groups of citizens with researchers to help challenge stereotypes of research and to demonstrate its contribution to tackling local and global challenges. FUTURES events also had a particular focus on engaging children and families to stimulate interest in scientific careers. The consortium was led by the University of Bristol, with the University of Bath as a bid partner and Bath Spa University as a core partner, utilising the existing strong research connections between these universities.
Objective
"FUTURES: Create. Imagine. Explore. will bring together learning from the past and visions of the future by celebrating cultural heritage and exploring innovation. We will achieve this by hosting two nights of activities across the cities of Bristol and Bath engaging the South West region in a celebration and discovery of European cutting-edge research and its place in society.
The consortium will be led by the University of Bristol, with the University of Bath as bid partner plus Bath Spa University as a core partner. FUTURES will have a distinctive regional flavour, as we are bringing together Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellows from the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Exeter and Cardiff, and utilising the strong research connections across the West of England and south Wales that exist through the ""GW4 Alliance"" between these universities. We will also work closely with popular venues such as We The Curious and The Holburne Museum, as well as community spaces such as The Island and Barton Hill Settlement. This range of partners in both cities will ensure a diversity of citizens across the South West region will be able to participate in a range of thought-provoking and inspiring activities engaging them with research.
We have a strong emphasis on engaging school children and families to increase awareness of careers in research and to break stereotypes about researchers. We are also aiming activities at specific groups who may not normally have access to research or researchers. For all activities, direct interaction with researchers will allow audiences to engage with the people behind the science.
We will provide a coherent story of cultural heritage and innovation that have characterised the region’s scientific and socio-economic development. With Responsible Research and Innovation in mind, working with socially engaged artists we will reflect on how current developments have the potential to influence the future of the region and beyond."
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
BS8 1QU Bristol
United Kingdom