DERRY:University funders have launched the biggest ever campaign to force academics to tell the public about their work.

The "beacons" scheme is a push from the funding and research councils and the Wellcome Trust to spur universities to take public-engagement work seriously. Communicating with the public is often seen as altruistic in universities. It is hoped the scheme will make public engagement an integral part of academic life.

A total of six "beacons" - collaborative networks of institutions - are to be set up in Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. There will also be a UK-wide co-ordinating centre based in Bristol, which will work across the initiative and provide a single point of contact for the higher education sector.