Application Top Tips
Before you complete the British Science Association Media Fellowships online application form, please read these top tips.
General advice
It is best if you describe what you did and what you worked on, as well as listing your job title, place of work and funding body. Explain your area of research in layman's terms, without detailing any specifics such as equipment used. Try not to use any jargon or acronyms unless they're explained. Hosts are looking at how you communicate what you work on so try not merely to list your research interests/area.
Brief details of no more than 5 significant publications or other evidence of professional competence
List any publications, including journal and title of paper. If you haven't published anything then describe any thesis, poster, competitions relating to your research.
Describe any involvement you have had in communicating science to a general audience, including details of any courses attended
Highlight any science communication experience you have had, be it presenting to school children, writing for newspapers or being interviewed. Explain whether you liked it and what you learnt. If you have had any communication or media training say what you learnt and emphasise your writing skills.
How do you see your career progressing in the next 5 years?
It would be interesting to hear about where you see yourself heading in the future. Please be aware that the Media Fellowships are for researchers wanting to remai in research and NOT for those wanting to move into science communication full time.
Why are you applying for a Media Fellowship and what might you learn from the experience?
Think about how you would personally benefit from taking part in the scheme. Describe specific skills you hope to learn and give examples of how the Fellowship might be beneficial; again use full sentences.
How might you ensure your colleagues/department benefit from your Fellowship placement?
Think about how you could share your learning. What practical steps could you take to widen the group of people benefitting from your Fellowship and on what timescale what you hope to do this. Have you tried to do this already?
Describe an experience you have had with the media
This could be, for example, an interview with a journalist or feedback you have had from a media story. Describe what happened, what you liked or didn't like about it and what you learnt from the experience. It could be a positive or negative experience. It is OK if you haven't had any experience of the media; you could write about your personal view on science in the media. You may like to look at our Working with the media page
Special requests
All Media Fellowships are different and we try to be as accommodating as possible. You won't be marked down just because you can't relocate to London or have family commitments so please state these here so we can take them into consideration. If you have a preference for a particular media type i.e. television, radio or print please say this as well.
NB When applications are marked they are done so with information regarding age, ethnicity and whether you have applied before removed so your mark is based purely on what you write in the individual application.
We cannot guarantee to accommodate your requests should you be offered a Fellowship but will try our best!
Letter from your employer
Applications are only valid if they are accompanied by a letter from your employer/head of department or funder stating that they are happy for you to be released on full pay for the duration of your Fellowship. (NB this is not a reference and a few lines is sufficient). If you would like to let your employer know about the scheme, we have a pre-written Letter to employer (pdf 123kb) from the CEO of the British Science Association which you can print, detailing the Media Fellowships relevance and impacts.
If you have any questions please email amy.lothian@britishscienceassociation.org or call 0207 019 4938
You may also like to read about the selection process.
General advice
- Write in full sentences not bullets points and don't put in links to articles or websites unless you really need to.
- Be honest about yourself- if you haven't had any experience in a particular area then say this or if you have a particular personal reason for applying then say this.
- Be honest about your impression of the media- whether you've had a bad experience with the media, think they're great or are just confused about them then say this.
- Emphasise your writing skills.
- Be specific about what you hope to learn and gain. Try not to make vague statements.
It is best if you describe what you did and what you worked on, as well as listing your job title, place of work and funding body. Explain your area of research in layman's terms, without detailing any specifics such as equipment used. Try not to use any jargon or acronyms unless they're explained. Hosts are looking at how you communicate what you work on so try not merely to list your research interests/area.
Brief details of no more than 5 significant publications or other evidence of professional competence
List any publications, including journal and title of paper. If you haven't published anything then describe any thesis, poster, competitions relating to your research.
Describe any involvement you have had in communicating science to a general audience, including details of any courses attended
Highlight any science communication experience you have had, be it presenting to school children, writing for newspapers or being interviewed. Explain whether you liked it and what you learnt. If you have had any communication or media training say what you learnt and emphasise your writing skills.
How do you see your career progressing in the next 5 years?
It would be interesting to hear about where you see yourself heading in the future. Please be aware that the Media Fellowships are for researchers wanting to remai in research and NOT for those wanting to move into science communication full time.
Why are you applying for a Media Fellowship and what might you learn from the experience?
Think about how you would personally benefit from taking part in the scheme. Describe specific skills you hope to learn and give examples of how the Fellowship might be beneficial; again use full sentences.
How might you ensure your colleagues/department benefit from your Fellowship placement?
Think about how you could share your learning. What practical steps could you take to widen the group of people benefitting from your Fellowship and on what timescale what you hope to do this. Have you tried to do this already?
Describe an experience you have had with the media
This could be, for example, an interview with a journalist or feedback you have had from a media story. Describe what happened, what you liked or didn't like about it and what you learnt from the experience. It could be a positive or negative experience. It is OK if you haven't had any experience of the media; you could write about your personal view on science in the media. You may like to look at our Working with the media page
Special requests
All Media Fellowships are different and we try to be as accommodating as possible. You won't be marked down just because you can't relocate to London or have family commitments so please state these here so we can take them into consideration. If you have a preference for a particular media type i.e. television, radio or print please say this as well.
NB When applications are marked they are done so with information regarding age, ethnicity and whether you have applied before removed so your mark is based purely on what you write in the individual application.
We cannot guarantee to accommodate your requests should you be offered a Fellowship but will try our best!
Letter from your employer
Applications are only valid if they are accompanied by a letter from your employer/head of department or funder stating that they are happy for you to be released on full pay for the duration of your Fellowship. (NB this is not a reference and a few lines is sufficient). If you would like to let your employer know about the scheme, we have a pre-written Letter to employer (pdf 123kb) from the CEO of the British Science Association which you can print, detailing the Media Fellowships relevance and impacts.
If you have any questions please email amy.lothian@britishscienceassociation.org or call 0207 019 4938
You may also like to read about the selection process.
