AHRC & BBC launch nationwide search for new intellectual broadcasters

The Arts & Humanities Research Council, BBC Radio 3, and BBC Arts are today (10th November) launching a nationwide search to find the UK’s next intellectual broadcasters in the arts and humanities.

From lively intellectual debates on air, explorations of ancient civilisations, and nationwide commemorations of World War One, academic research has never been so visible in the media. The New Generation Thinkers scheme is seeking innovative programme ideas, talent, and expertise from early career researchers who are passionate about communicating their research across the airwaves.

The scheme, led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) with BBC Radio 3, will invite up to sixty early career researchers to BBC-run workshops to develop their programme ideas alongside experienced BBC producers. From these sixty, the ten resident New Generation Thinkers for 2015 will be selected, and will go on to develop their ideas for BBC Radio 3 in a year-long partnership. .

The scheme is partnered with BBC Arts to provide opportunities for the New Generation Thinkers to develop their ideas for television and have the opportunity to make a short taster film of their idea to be shown on the BBC arts website – bbc.co.uk/arts

Past New Generation Thinkers have appeared on radio, on television, in print, and at cultural festivals. This is the fifth year the scheme has been run.

Matthew Dodd, Head of Speech programming at BBC Radio 3, said:

“BBC Radio 3 is delighted to be working with the AHRC again. As part of BBC Arts commitment to cultural programming, we’re looking for scholars at the start of their career who have a real passion to reach out to a non-academic audience, and who have research that they believe would make great broadcasts. There are many different ways to make a good programme, and that’s why each year BBC Radio 3 is genuinely interested in meeting academics who think they’ve got an idea that will transfer to radio. We’ve been very impressed with the New Generation Thinkers we’ve worked with in previous years. I heartily encourage researchers to apply, and look forward to reading the applications”

Professor Rick Rylance, CEO of the AHRC, said:

“The New Generation Thinkers scheme is a unique opportunity for talented early career researchers to disseminate their research and bring their ideas into the public arena. There is so much exciting research that deserves a broad audience, and so many members of the public who are interested in it. This scheme connects the two.”

Find out more and apply on the AHRC website. A Twitter chat for potential applicants and anyone interested in the scheme will be held on #ngt2015 at 2pm on Wednesday 26th November.

For further information, contact Alex Pryce (AHRC), a.pryce@ahrc.ac.uk, 01793 41 6025.