Public engagement is an umbrella term that describes the activities organisations, teams and individuals seek to involve the public in their work.
We use the term outreach to define an activity that inspires young people making education and career choices, and their families. Our outreach programme engages various audiences within the chemical sciences. In the UK we are the largest non-governmental funder of chemistry education.
We support our members in education, academia, industry, and the third sector at all stages of their careers to lead, develop, and deliver public engagement. Wherever you are in your public engagement journey, from taking your first steps to becoming an experienced practitioner, our training, funding, guidance, and evidence can support you.
Whether you are new to outreach, or an experienced practitioner, the RSC is here to support you to engage different audiences with the chemical sciences. On this page, you can find out more about how to get involved including:
Chemistry Week 2024 - celebrating chemistry throughout November
4 - 10 November 2024
This is an annual celebration of the chemical sciences. For 2024, Chemistry Week will be taking place 4 – 10 November, but we invite you to celebrate the chemical sciences throughout the whole month of November within the theme of “chemistry is shaping the future”.
The impact of chemistry is incredible, from reducing our carbon footprint, improving nutrition, and creating sustainable materials, chemistry drives positive change in all aspects of life. Chemistry is all around – it shapes the manufacture of all that you touch and wear, the development of life-changing medicines and solutions for the pressures on energy and water to help us to live more sustainably.
Within the chemical sciences there is a rich and diverse community of groups and individuals who, driven by dedication and professionalism, are using chemistry to shape the future.
We will be concentrating on celebrations during Chemistry Week itself, but we invite you to organise activity at any time in November to celebrate the myriad of ways that chemistry has, and continues, to shape the future for the better, themes could include (but are not limited to):
- Clean air/water
- Clean energies
- Sustainability
- Climate and environment
- Careers in chemistry
Share with us how you will be celebrating Chemistry Week in November – tag the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø on social media and use #chemistryweek.
As usual, we want to support you with outreach and public engagement activities that you want to plan for Chemistry Week throughout November. We want to help you to inspire the next generation, reach new audiences outside of the chemical science community and celebrate the diversity of chemistry and people within our community.
Find some ideas
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at the:
- projects funded through the RSC Outreach Fund
- resources in our
- diverse that contribute to our society
- to see how chemistry is improving our world right now
Public Engagement Workshops and Training
The RSC has launched a public engagement workshop series: Diverse Engagement for Diverse Publics.
The aim of the series is to inform best practices, share ideas, and build a community for those who are interested in public engagement with science.
There are currently no upcoming Diverse Engagement for Diverse Publics workshops scheduled. Take a look at our previous workshops and explore the available recordings.
If you have an idea for a workshop or a speaker, please get in touch to let us know using the contact details at the side of this page.
Recordings of previous public engagement and outreach workshops are available to access by all current RSC members through the , all you need to do is follow the link below and log in with your membership number and password. See below for details on previous workshops.
Chemistry Crossing Borders
We are excited to announce 'Chemistry Crossing Borders', a collaboration between and Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±Íø.
This programme will enable chemical scientists from migrant backgrounds to engage their communities with science in their heritage languages, celebrating our diverse scientific community and all those who contribute to it. We are particularly keen to support refugee and asylum-seeking communities.
The scientists will receive training and support so they can carry out science outreach workshops in their heritage languages. If you're a chemical scientist from a migrant background in the UK or Ireland and would like to get involved, please find more information here.
Opportunities in outreach and public engagement
We know from our Chemistry for All research that it is vital to have a diverse range of passionate role models to support inspiring and enthusing the next generation as well as spreading the word about the pivotal role chemistry plays in solving global problems. The RSC provide a number of ways to get involved, current opportunities include:
RSC Outreach Fund
Our Outreach Fund provides financial support to members, non-members, individuals and organisations in order to enable them to run chemistry-based public and schools engagement activities. Visit the page here to find out more and to see if you are eligible to apply for funding.
Would you like to make a difference to young people, your community and education in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)? STEM Ambassadors make an impact by supporting learning, illuminating careers and raising aspirations. For more information and to sign up, visit the .
Share your passion for chemistry with school students using I'm a Scientist - an online, student-led STEM enrichment activity that connects school students with scientists through real-time text-based messaging. By applying to be one of the scientists, you'll help to inspire the next generation of chemical scientists as well as developing your online communication skills. For more information and to sign up visit the .
Would you like to help raise awareness of diversity in science-based careers for primary aged children? The Primary Science Teaching Trust are designing a new resource comprising of a set of short, illustrated slideshows of a particular scientist or person working in a science-related job. . Remember to mention you are an RSC member if you get involved.
The Access Project is looking for volunteers to support disadvantaged young people aged 14-18, via an easy-to-use dedicated online platform. By volunteering you will help to inspire, motivate and raise aspirations towards further education and the world of work. Visit the for more information and to sign up, and don't forget to quote RSC.
Regional RSC Activity
There may be activity taking place in your local area that you could become involved with. To find out if there is anything going on near you, contact your Local Section or .
Activity Inspiration
The list of activity that can be carried out to engage audiences with the chemical sciences is endless! Whilst this is exciting and allows much room for creativity, it can also be overwhelming, so here are a few resources you can look at as a starting point:
- – in our outreach collection, you will find a wide range of activities you can do from chemistry in your shopping basket to chemistry of sunscreens.
- – if you are looking to talk about careers in chemistry, our Future in Chemistry resources are an excellent place to start.
- Case studies - details of previous schools and public engagement outreach projects can be found on the Outreach Fund pages, feel free to use these as inspiration and to help guide your thoughts.
- Sustainability - to link in with the 2021-22 RSC focus on sustainability, there is a wealth of information available on a dedicated webpage to help inspire and support related activity.
- – if you are looking specifically at engaging with schools, take a look at our Education website for resources.
National Chemical Landmarks
The Chemical Landmarks Scheme is a public engagement initiative raising awareness of sites where individuals, teams and collaborations within the chemistry community have made a significant contribution to health, wealth or quality of life. Find out more about the scheme here.
Not sure where to start?
If you are still not sure where to go from here, don’t worry! Get in touch with us using the details on this page, we would be happy to hear from you and help support you however we can.