FUTURES 2025 Researcher info
Showcase your research at FUTURES Discovery Day, in Bristol on 27 September 2025
Do you have an idea for engaging hands-on activities that will spark curiosity, stimulate discussion and inspire a family audience?
Applications are now open for researchers and research groups to bring interactive exhibits to Discovery Day, taking place at We The Curious in central Bristol on Saturday 27 September, 10:00-16:00.
Discovery Day is the flagship event of FUTURES 2025, a UKRI-funded programme of public events and activities that celebrates research across the South West. It is a fun, family-friendly day jam-packed with hands-on activities and the chance for visitors to meet researchers and find out about the latest research. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your research to a diverse audience, build your communication skills and confidence, and gain insights and feedback from the public about your research.
We are seeking ideas for interesting table-top activities, featuring fun things for visitors to see, touch, do, and discuss. We’ll help you to develop your idea, with dedicated support and training, plus a small budget for materials.
Applications close on Wednesday 14 May
Before making an application, watch our short public engagement training videos, especially videos 1 and 11.
Who is the audience?
Discovery Day is aimed at families with young children (approximately 6-12 years old) from Bristol and the surrounding area. The event is also open to adults and young people with an interest in research and discovery. We expect several hundred visitors over the course of the day.
What are we looking for?
- Interactive activities that are low-tech (ideally not relying on screens, phones, technology or things that need power).
- Positive key messages that showcase the power of research – across all disciplines – to tackle big challenges in society.
- Activities do not need to be fully developed, nor to have been done before, but we will want to see that you have given careful thought to how your ideas will work for this family audience.
What is the commitment?
If you are successful in applying to take part in Discovery Day, you commit to:
- Attend online Public Engagement training on Wednesday 4 June, 11:00-13:00
- Submit your equipment requirements form by Friday 11 July
- Set up your exhibit at We The Curious on the afternoon of Friday 26 September
- Be on site at We The Curious on Saturday 27 September, 09:00-17:00 (the event will be open to visitors 10:00-16:00).
We recommend that your team consists of at least three people, to allow you to deliver activities throughout the day, manage energy levels and take breaks. However, we recognise that not all researchers work in teams – if you are a researcher working alone, consider whether you can recruit departmental colleagues or PhD students to help you on the day.
What support is available?
- Jenny Jopson, Public Engagement Associate and FUTURES Co-ordinator, will support you to develop your ideas through regular check ins via Teams meetings and email.
- Training from the Public Engagement team
- A modest budget for materials (up to £50 per exhibit)
- Refreshments and lunch on the day of the event
Top tips for a successful exhibit
- Have a clear, simple message that you’d like visitors to take away with them.
- Make it interactive and fun – visitors will come to Discovery Day to get hands on and do things. You could include objects that can be handled, crafting activities, games, challenges or competitions.
- Bold visuals can help to draw people in and make ideas accessible and appealing. You could bring a piece of equipment that you use in your research (e.g. a 3D printer, a model) or a fun prop (e.g. toys such as Giant Microbes). Pull up banners are great if you have them already, but if not then printed posters or hand drawn pictures work well too.
- Quality engagement is a two-way process for mutual benefit. What would you like to find out from visitors that will be useful for your research or you as a researcher? You could invite people to vote on a question using voting stations (e.g. by dropping tokens in a box) or use a graffiti wall to gather feedback and ideas.
Things to note
- Exhibitors will be provided with a single trestle table measuring 1.8m and floor space of approximately 1.4m x 1.9m. (If you require something different to this then we will try our best to accommodate extra space, but this is not guaranteed).
- You may not give out out food or drink of any kind.
- You must avoid the use of VR headsets with children under 13 years old (due to potential risks to their health and developing eyesight).
How to apply
If you are interested in being part of Discovery Day please complete the Application Form. Applications close at 23:59 on Wednesday 14 May.
We recommend that you discuss your idea with a member of the FUTURES team, and/or attend an online information session before submitting your application.
Information sessions will take place on Teams at:
- Wednesday 2 April, 12:30-13:15
- Tuesday 22 April, 12:30-13:15
Please email futures-project@bristol.ac.uk to book onto one of the information sessions, or to arrange a chat with a member of the FUTURES team.
Outcomes will be communicated by Friday 23 May.
We aim to accommodate as many researchers and activities as possible, but spaces are limited and our funder (UKRI) requires that the event reflects a range of research topics and researchers.