Dear GENIE comrades, I have prepared a nomination document for GENIE for the ERC Public Engagement with Research Award 2026 (see below), with help and input from our newest GENIE postdoc Abbas AbdulRaifiu. It is attached, and due January 15, so I am requesting any comments or edits by January 9. Just make them directly here, which should be editable and open to everyone: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0jurrgloct4k48r4h9og6/ERC-Award-Draft-120125.docx?rlkey=afpnt1hfq77ea85fubih9qgrx&dl=0 When drafting this, I was struck with just how much GENIE has accomplished, from SHARD and HATCH to our focus groups/surveys and the Knowledge Hub and various efforts at dissemination. I think we have a genuine chance of winning this. With best wishes from Paris, Benjamin From: ERC-PROJECT-PROMOTION@ec.europa.eu<mailto:ERC-PROJECT-PROMOTION@ec.europa.eu> <ERC-PROJECT-PROMOTION@ec.europa.eu<mailto:ERC-PROJECT-PROMOTION@ec.europa.eu>> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2025 4:08 AM To: Benjamin Sovacool <benjaminso@hih.au.dk<mailto:benjaminso@hih.au.dk>> Subject: ERC Public Engagement with Research Award 2026 Dear Benjamin Sovacool, I am pleased to inform you that the ERC Public Engagement with Research Award 2026 call has been launched. The award will recognise ERC-funded researchers who successfully engage audiences outside their field with their research. By “public engagement” we mean the involvement of the public in the design, conduct or dissemination of activities funded by the ERC. Engagement is a two-way process, involving interaction and mutual understanding for mutual benefit. Eight prizes will be awarded, each valued at €10 000. If you want to have an idea of what types of projects were successful in the past, you can find articles about them<https://erc.europa.eu/manage-your-project/public-engagement-research-award#PAST> on the ERC website and short video interviews available in the science communication playlist<https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtv6FnsXqnXCcgQQXjqWEPG2Ekqc0VSO4&si=y3HnROwNu8ofS41P> on the ERC YouTube channel. If you have engaged with the public in the course of your ERC-funded project or up to two years following its conclusion, and if your communication activities have contributed to bringing science closer to citizens, I encourage you to apply. Best regards, Maria Leptin ERC President How to apply All relevant information is available on the ERC website<https://erc.europa.eu/manage-your-project/public-engagement-research-award> and on the ERC-2026-PERA<https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/ERC-2026-PERA> call published on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal website. ERC grantees with an ongoing project or a project that concluded on or after 31 December 2023 are eligible. Proposals can be submitted electronically at any time before the call deadline on 15 January 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time) using the template provided in the submission system. Entries will be evaluated and selected in two rounds based on two evaluation criteria: strategy and implementation, and impact. Please consult the following document before submitting your entry: * ERC Work Programme 2026<https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026/wp_horizon-erc-2026_en.pdf> (from page 44) * Rules of Contest<https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026/roc_horizon-erc-2026-pera_en.pdf> If you need support or advice, please contact the National Contact Point<https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/support/ncp?order=ASC&pageNumber=0&pageSize=50&countries=20000832,20000839,20000841,20000911,20000871,20000872,20000875,20000880,20000885,20000890,20000873,20000902,20000913,20000915,20000922,20000946,20000944,20000945,20000960,20000973,20000986,20000990,20000994,20001005,20001004,20000883,20001001&functions=45785764> in your country or send an email to the following address: ERC-PROJECT-PROMOTION@ec.europa.eu<mailto:ERC-PROJECT-PROMOTION@ec.europa.eu>.