We are no longer accepting applications for the 2023 Award Lectureships. 

The British Science Association has been rewarding promising early career scientists for over 30 years, many of whom are now successful science communicators. Previous Award Lecturers include Brian Cox, Richard Wiseman and Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

The Award Lectures aim to promote open and informed discussion on issues involving science and actively encourage early career scientists to explore the social aspects of their research. The applicants should be active, early career researchers who are skilled at communicating their research to the wider public. They should be available to present their Award Lecture during the British Science Festival which will be held in Exeter from Thursday 7 – Sunday 10 September 2023, hosted by the University of Exeter.

The selected Award Lecturers will receive a £250 honorarium, public engagement training, as well as travel to and accommodation for the duration of the Festival.

Before applying, we strongly encourage you to read the below FAQs and get in touch with [email protected] to discuss your application. 

Awards are available in seven different areas and seek to highlight the interdisciplinarity of science, research and innovation:

• Social sciences

• Engineering, technology and industry 

• Environmental sciences

• Agricultural, biological and medical sciences

• Physical sciences and mathematics

• Digital innovation

• Science and the arts

There may also be other opportunities to present the Award Lecture at other science festivals in the UK.

To get an idea of what it's like to be an Award Lecturer, check out this blog from one of our 2018 winners, Oli Williams, and this series of 5-minute videos from our 2021 winners.

See the full list of Award Lectures since 1990.