Liverpool Pint of Science 2022 – call for speakers

Pint of Science Liverpool is inviting scientists to apply to share their research with the public at its 2022 festival.

This annual festival takes place in cities across the world in May, and sees brilliant scientists chat about their latest research. After taking place online for the past two years, Pint of Science 2022 is currently planning to go ahead in person (restrictions allowing). The festival will run from Monday 9^th to Wednesday 11^th May 2022.

This is the sixth year of Pint of Science Liverpool, and all its previous in-person events have sold out, with over 1000 members of the public attending, and more than 90 staff and students taking part.

Organisers are looking for researchers with ideas for fun and engaging talks to take part in Pint of Science 2022. No previous experience of taking part in a similar event is required, and the festival organisers can offer you support with developing your talk.

If you have taken part in a previous Pint of Science event, you are very welcome to apply to take part again, providing your talk is different from the one previously presented.

The events aim to share the latest issues being tackled and questions being answered in labs and universities, in an interesting and accessible way.

In Liverpool, the Pint of Science Festival will run in three city centre pubs over the three days. Each pub will host talks on one of the themes of the festival:

• Atoms to Galaxies – physics, chemistry, maths, astronomy
• Beautiful Mind – neuroscience, psychology and psychiatry
• Our Body – medicine, human biology, health

There are two ways you can get involved – either by being an event speaker or taking part in Shots of Science!

Event Speakers (open to everyone at postgrad level and above)

Scientists are invited to talk about their research, that links to one of the above themes and is aimed at an audience who have an interest in knowing what’s going on in science research, but who do not necessarily have a background in it.  Your talk should last no longer than 20 minutes. You can use PowerPoint and are also encouraged to incorporate demonstrations and/or interactive elements in to your talk, where possible! People who are selected to speak will be invited to deliver their talk at one of the pubs on one evening of the Festival.

Shots of Science (open to all early career researchers and Masters/PhD students)

Early Career Researchers can apply to give a 2 -3 minute talk about their work at one of the pint of science events. You’ll be challenged to explain your research in just a couple of minutes without using PowerPoint, and will be competing to be crowned Top of the Shots on the night and get your hands on some Pint of Science prizes!

Everyone who is invited to take part in Shots of Science will also be invited to attend an Advanced Presentation Skills workshop.  This special session, tailored to the people who take part, will support you in developing your public speaking skills to a new level. It’s led by Dr Steve Cross, a public speaker, event host and stand-up comedian, and will look at everything from how to tailor your talk to a specific audience to how to stop PowerPoint ruining the idea you were trying to get across!

Steve is the founder of Bright Club and Science Showoff and has helped hundreds of researchers to develop their public engagement skills, including developing some of the newest stars of science communication.

If you are interested in taking part in Liverpool Pint of Science 2022, please complete the online application form by 5pm on Friday 11^th February.

Apply here: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/intranet/health-and-life-sciences/research/public-engagement/get-involved/pintofscience/

There are a limited number of spaces in the programme so applications will be shortlisted and we will let applicants know whether their talk has been selected for the festival by early March.

If you have any questions, please contact Becky Glennon-Alty on bglennon@liv.ac.uk.