Towards a more scientifically literate public in the 21st century

Over the past decade, in addition to forging an international research reputation in my field of theoretical nuclear physics, I have devoted a significant fraction of my time to science communication and popularisation activities. The University of Surrey has recently acknowledged my efforts by promoting me last October to a joint personal chair in nuclear physics and in the Public Engagement in Science, the latter being one of just four such chairs in the UK, the others being in Bristol (Kathy Sykes), Oxford (Richard Dawkins) and Imperial (Robert Winston),I feel passionately about communicating my research and engaging with the public on wider scientific issues in general and believe that an EPSRC Senior Media Fellowship will provide an opportunity to pursue projects and initiatives I would otherwise be unable to. The objecitves of this fellowship proposal are a series of definite, realisable and exciting projects and initiatives that I feel confident I will be able to achieve. I believe it has never been more important for scientists to be able to justify their research and to explain to the public what they do and why they do it. My current involvement in public engagement and media work is constrained by my various academic responsibilities of teaching, research and administration. The activities and initiatives proposed in this case will thus only be possible with EPSRC support through a media fellowship to free up part of my time to devote to them.