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ORGANISATIONS FUNDING or carrying out research often promote a wider awareness of their work to inform the community of the benefits of an education in the arts and sciences, to demonstrate the importance of research to economic prosperity and quality of life, and to ensure continued funding for research activities.
The Royal Institution of Great Britain plays an important role in scientific research and education. Similarly the British Association for the Advancement of Science (BAAS) promotes awareness of science, engineering and technology, while the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) aims to develop programmes and strategies to engage the scientific community in promoting public understanding of science. The research councils have a specific mandate to undertake these activities.
In the arts, the Royal Academy of Arts aims to support contemporary artists while promoting interest in the work of past masters, and The British Academy promotes research and scholarship in the humanities and social sciences. The Arts and Humanities Research Council encourages public awareness of how the arts and humanities contribute to society, both culturally and economically.
Many schemes offer funding for awareness-raising activities, especially attempts to develop the public understanding of science. Outreach activities may include public lectures, open days, exhibitions, press events, web sites, work with teachers and local schools and 'master classes'. Psci-com offers a gateway for public understanding of science resources on the Internet. In addition, the Public Understanding of Science, Engineering and Technology (PUSET) campaign, part of the Office of Science and Technology (OST), runs events, produces publications and issues grants to other organisations.
The Scottish Research Information System (SRIS) is a starting point for finding out about Scotland’s research, development, consultancy and innovation resources. SRIS brings together the capabilities of universities and institutes in Scotland, and the vital interests of organizations across the world that can make good use of these resources.
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