Institute of Physics Accepting Applications for Public Engagement Grant Scheme

Funding for physics-based activities that meaningfully engage with whole family groups

Grants are available for individuals and organisations across the UK and Ireland to deliver physics-based projects that meaningfully engage whole family groups and aim to improve people’s relationship with physics.

Through the Public Engagement Grant Scheme, grants of between £500 and £4,000 are available for projects targeting families with young people under the age of 16 who identify with one or more of the following groups:

• Girls and young women.
• Disabled young people.
• LGBT+ young people.
• Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Black Caribbean young people.

Proposed projects should improve people’s relationship with physics, demonstrate how they will meaningfully engage with whole family groups, be free for participants to access, and have physics at its heart.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Link with physicists and physics institutions.
• Show the impacts of physics on society rather than just teaching core physics.
• Have the potential for lasting impact.
• Combat stereotypes about physics, physicists, and physics careers, and include positive, inclusive messaging about them.
• Show evidence of elements of co-creation or input from the target audience.
• Provide evidence of public engagement best practice.
• Show that the activity is dependent on IOP funding, or that IOP funding adds a significant and distinct element.
• Include a project plan and project costs that are clearly structured and optimised for the project’s success.

There are two funding rounds in 2026.