Institute of Physics (IOP) Public Engagement Grant Scheme

Overview

The Public Engagement Grant Scheme (PEGS) aims to support the IOP Limit Less campaign by improving the relationship with physics of young people and their influencers, including their parents and carers. This could be by showcasing relatable role models of those doing physics, actively challenging stereotypes and preconceptions, sharing positive messages about physics, and more!

The grant looks to prioritise projects that reach families with young people under the age of 16 who identify with one or more of the following groups currently underrepresented in the physics community:

• girls and young women;
• disabled young people;
• LGBT+ young people;
• young people from disadvantaged backgrounds; and
• Black Caribbean young people.

They are hoping to fund projects that can evidence public engagement best practice, the ability to reach one or more of these audiences, and evidence of positive impacts linked to the aims of Limit Less. Take a look at their FAQ page.

About the 2025 scheme

1. Seed Fund: Grants of up to £500 to build new partnerships between physicists and non-physicists.
2. Main Fund: The minimum grant award is £500. You can apply for up to £4,000 to run physics-based activities in the UK and Ireland.

Seed Fund

This year (2025) they are trialling the introduction of a ‘Seed Fund’ to bring together non-physicist and physicist participants and develop a full grant application. The fund can be used to facilitate communication and build common ground between new partners, from which a full public engagement grant application could arise. Please note, this funding is to support the development of new partnership and is not provided to conduct public engagement activities.

Seed Fund: Grants of up to £500 to build new partnerships between physicists and non-physicists.

They are no longer accepting Seed Fund applications for 2025.

For more information, download the supporting document on the Seed Fund (PDF, 132KB).

Main Fund

The Public Engagement Grant Scheme (PEGS) aims to support the IOP Limit Less initiative by funding projects that engage whole family groups (including parents/carers) to improve their relationship with physics.

They are accepting applications on a rolling basis from Monday 3 February to Monday 1 September 2025 and have two decision-making points during the year.

Main Fund: The minimum grant award is £500. You can apply for up to £4,000 to run physics-based activities in the UK and Ireland.

Who can apply

There are very few limits to who can apply. The scheme is open to individuals and organisations in the UK and Republic of Ireland who are passionate about promoting engagement with physics.

• Must be aged 18+; and
• Must be a UK or ROI resident (with an associated UK or ROI bank account) or applying on behalf of a UK or ROI resident. 

Essential criteria 

Your project must… 

• Aim to improve people’s relationship with physics;
• Aim to meaningfully engage with whole-family groups;
• Aim to reach at least one of the IOP target audiences (see below);
• Be free for participants to access;
• Have physics at its heart i.e. relating to physics/physicists/the application of physics;
• Outline project costs, including additional funding being used to support the project;
• Include an evaluation plan (see additional information on evaluation); and
• Provide details of how the project will succeed, including a timeline, any project management structures, and risk mitigation (including GDPR and safeguarding). 

Previously funded applicants to PEGS additionally need to show effective use of previous PEGS funding by providing: 

• Evidence of effective evaluation, learning and improvement from any previously funded projects; and
• Evidence of positive impact on the participants from any previously funded projects. 

Desirable criteria 

They will prioritise funding for projects which: 

Physics 

• Link with physicists and physics institutions. For example, universities and research departments, IOP members, IOP special interest groups, IOP-affiliated student societies, physics-based businesses; and
• Show the benefits of physics to society rather than just core physics concepts/topics. 

Impact

• Have the potential for lasting impact, e.g. a demonstrable project legacy, a measurable change in attitudes/values of participants, develops ongoing positive relationships between physics and public participants, etc.;
• Combat stereotypes about, and/or include positive messaging about physics, physicists and physics careers 

Public engagement practice 

• Show evidence of elements of co-creation or input from the target audience; and
• Provide evidence of public engagement best practice, such as two-way engagement and mutual benefit for all participants. 

Project success 

• Show that the activity is dependent on IOP funding, or that IOP funding adds a significant and distinct element; and
• Show that there will be relevant training for any volunteers or role models.

IOP target audiences and key messages 

Target audiences are those currently underrepresented or underserved in the physics community. 

They are specifically trying to reach families with young people under the age of 16 that identify with one or more of the following groups: 

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

Below are key messages around physics, which aim to challenge some of the stereotypes that put young people off doing physics post-16. They include: 

• Doing physics empowers young people to change the world;
• Physics is for people of all identities and backgrounds;
• Physics depends on teamwork and diverse viewpoints;
• Physicist isn’t the only career available to physics students; and
• Physics opens the door to many stable career options, including well-paid jobs that do not require a degree

Other schemes

Bell Burnell Graduate Scholarship Fund

An innovative fund instigated by leading physicist Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell and the Institute of Physics to encourage greater diversity in physics by assisting PhD physics students from under-represented groups.

Anthony Waterhouse Fellowship

If you are a teacher, and have an idea about physics teaching that you'd like to develop, the Anthony Waterhouse Fellowship can help.

Benevolent Fund

The Benevolent Fund provides financial help to IOP members, or their dependants, facing a critical need that cannot otherwise be met.

The Fund provides help for situations such as:

• unemployment
• sickness
• financial hardship in old age
• a career break

Carers' Fund

This fund helps you attend physics-related events or conferences that you might not otherwise be able to go to because you care for someone else. Grant can cover care worrker or child-minder/babysitter costs, travel expenses, after-school activities, nursing or other care.