Entries are now open for a University funded Fellowship from the British Science Association Media Fellowship Scheme.

Would you like to discover what it’s like to work as a science journalist on a national newspaper, television news desk or Nature News? How would you like to spend 2-6 weeks in a national news organisation or programme-making team?

This year, Communications and Advocacy within External Relations is funding one place for an academic to participate in the British Science Association (BSA) Media Fellowship scheme.

The BSA Media Fellowship scheme — which is the only one of its kind in the UK — gives practicing scientists, clinicians, engineers and social sciences and arts academics the unique opportunity to spend 2-6 weeks working at the heart of a media outlet such as the Guardian, the BBC or the Times. Fellows on the scheme are mentored by professional journalists. They learn how the media operates and reports on science, how to communicate with the media and how to engage the wider public with science through the media.

The scheme, which has been run by the BSA since 1987, aims to give academics the confidence and willingness to engage with the media and tackle issues of mistrust and misrepresentation and to give journalists access to new scientific expertise. The scheme also reflects the association’s commitment to increasing the accessibility of the sciences and providing opportunities for discussion and debate.

After their media placement Fellows will attend the British Science Festival in September (this year in Hull), which provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience working alongside a range of media organisations from all over the UK in the BSA’s dedicated Press Centre. The Festival also offers opportunities to learn from a wide range of public engagement activities and network with academics, journalists and science communicators.

• In 2017, Dr Rebecca Dewey, from Physics and Astronomy, had a stint on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show. Watch the video about her experience.
• In 2012 Jonathan Ball, Professor of Molecular Virology, became a Media Fellow. Since then he has been interviewed by media organisations across the world and is a regular contributor to the BBC World Service. He has been interviewed and quoted extensively on the Ebola crisis. He spoke at a media workshop for fellow academics on his journey from ‘Media sceptic to Believer’.

Find out more:

The deadline for applications is 9am, Monday 9 April 2018. A shortlist of applications will be put forward by the Communications and Advocacy team, with the final successful applicant chosen by the BSA.

For more details on taking part in this year’s fellowship scheme — including key dates, eligibility and an entry form for University of Nottingham-funded placements — please visit the scheme webpage.