The scheme allows scientists to spend three to six weeks on a summer placement with print, broadcast and online journalists in organisations such as The Times, the Guardian and the BBC to learn how news stories are put together.

Successful applicants will get the chance to develop writing skills and help journalists produce well-informed, newsworthy pieces about developments in science.

Professor Mark Viney in the School of Biological Sciences took part in the scheme last year, spending a month on the New Scientist news desk. ‘It was hard moving from academic writing to journalism, with its short deadlines and concise articles, but the fast pace was also exhilarating’, he said. ‘Finding those stories, and angles, that would interest readers was more difficult than I expected, but I now think much more about how to pitch my – and my colleagues’ – work to the media.’

Professor Viney also had the opportunity to work as a journalist at the British Science Festival, an annual celebration of science, engineering and technology organised by the British Science Association.

The deadline for this year’s applications is 16 March. More information, including eligibility criteria and application forms, is available online.