Tag: STEM

POP24 lands at Dynamic Earth

POP24 and Dynamic Earth offer schools a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from environmental scientists, space experts, and conservationists

Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, is thrilled to announce its participation in Protecting Our Planet Day 2024 (POP24), a landmark educational event aimed at inspiring climate action among young people.

POP24 is organised by the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK) at STEM Learning and in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, POP24 is set to take place on Tuesday, 12 November 2024.

POP24 will immerse students in a full day of interactive sessions led by top experts in Earth and Space sciences, with an audience of approximately 150,000 people. Schools and the general public alike are invited to book individual sessions or participate in the entire day, offering everyone a unique opportunity to engage with climate change experts and explore innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.

Throughout the day, the event will feature live sessions hosted from Dynamic Earth by Suzie Imber and Dallas Campbell, who will guide viewers through each activity and highlight insights from guest experts.

Anyone interested in joining can sign up for most of the day’s events through the POP24 website. Participation is open to everyone, not just teachers or students, making this an inclusive event for all who care about protecting our planet.

One of the day’s first sessions, Pop into the Ocean (9:10-9:50 am), will be presented by Chris George, Head of Learning and Engagement at Dynamic Earth.

This session will take place in the Discover the Deep gallery and feature Alycia Smith from the National Oceanography Centre, known for her groundbreaking work on “dark oxygen” with the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).

Alycia Smith, who previously contributed to Dynamic Earth’s Growing Roots exhibition, will delve into her deep-sea research while joined by Emily Yates from Project Seagrass, who will highlight the critical role of seagrass ecosystems around the UK.

This session promises an in-depth look into how ocean life and conservation efforts help protect our planet, connecting participants with both marine research and the seagrass nurseries that sustain vital biodiversity.

Later in the day, Protecting Biodiversity (11:25 am-12:10 pm), presented by former Dynamic Earth Scientific Director Dr. Hermione Cockburn, will focus on the importance of biodiversity in sustaining our ecosystems.

The session opens with a recorded message from naturalist Chris Packham, who will introduce the concept of biodiversity and underscore its significance. Following this, the session will feature conservation efforts from the Knepp Wildland Foundation, Saving Wildcats, Trees for Life, and the National Wildflower Centre.

Each organisation will share insights into their work and unique approaches to biodiversity preservation, making this session an inspiring look at the practical measures that can help protect natural habitats.

The day will conclude with STEM Clubs Hour (3:30-4:30 pm), an after-school science club hosted by Chris George and Dynamic Earth’s Planetarium Manager, Dr. Alastair Bruce.

This engaging session will explore Earth observation through the use of satellites, explaining how this technology monitors environmental changes and supports global conservation efforts.

Dr. Bruce will introduce participants to the basics of satellite launches and their applications, using planetarium footage to explain the process.

From tracking wildlife and weather patterns to monitoring natural hazards, this session highlights how space science plays a vital role in advancing climate and environmental research. A range of interactive activities and videos will complement this session, making it an educational and hands-on way to close out the day.

Dynamic Earth’s Head of Learning and Engagement, Chris George, said: “We’re excited to be part of POP24 and to support students across the UK in exploring climate science and the role we all play in protecting our planet.

“POP24 offers a unique learning experience by bringing real-world science into classrooms, sparking curiosity, and empowering young people to think critically about our environment.”

For more information on how to register, please visit https://bit.ly/47waVJh and join the conversation using #POP24.

Charity launches global Digital Science Festival to boost STEM for all

  • Techfest, a Scottish charity, is set to launch a worldwide Digital Science Festival to promote STEM access to everyone.
  • Scotland’s Digital Science Festival (SDSF) is an exciting, virtual event that aims to bring science straight into homes through expert talks, interactive workshops, and an online escape room.
  • The festival will feature a range of speakers including TV Doctor, Tharaka Gunarthne, YouTuber, Dr Tom Crawford, and BBC Blue Planet’s, Doug Allan.
  • SDSF is designed to make STEM accessible and inclusive for all ages.  
  • Sarah Chew, Managing Director of Techfest, said: “Scotland’s Digital Science Festival is an opportunity for people of all generations to discover the excitement and possibilities that STEM can offer in today’s digital world. By making these fields more accessible and engaging, we hope to spark a lifelong curiosity that leads to innovation and empowerment.”

Scottish Charity, TechFest, has organised a free Digital Science Festival to take place on the 1-8th November to encourage engagement in STEM for all ages.

The week-long festival will be hosted entirely online including workshops, presentations and interactive sessions, led by professionals across STEM.

The festival will feature a variety of speakers who aim to demonstrate the relevance of STEM subjects in everyday life. One of the speakers, Dr Tom Crawford, also known as Tom Rocks Maths on YouTube, will be combining his passion for mathematics and Pokémon.

Additionally, Doug Allan from BBC’s Blue Planet will be attending the festival to discuss “An Eye Below Zero, a Long-Term Look at the Poles.”

Other speakers at the festival include Scottish Influencer of the Year 2024 and climate activist Laura Young, and Dr Vivienne Ming, a visionary neuroscientist and AI expert who works towards unlocking the human potential.

The festival will close with the unique ‘Universilly Challenged’ pub-style quiz experience, hosted by the one-of-a-kind science troubadour Jonny Berliner and renowned biologist Simon Watt.

TechFest is a charity focused on making STEM more engaging and inclusive for everyone throughout the country and beyond whilst helping to connect STEM to various sectors.

Scotland’s Digital Science Festival has been developed to address the accessibility barriers for rural communities and provide a global platform for participants to join from anywhere in the world.

Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “I’m incredibly proud to launch Scotland’s Digital Science Festival, powered by TechFest, in our efforts to bring fun and engaging STEM discussions to people across the globe.

“It is vital that we have more initiatives like this to inspire the next generation of talent and encourage people of all ages to engage with and rediscover their love for STEM.

“We want to challenge outdated perceptions that STEM subjects aren’t ‘cool’, are male-dominated, or too difficult by showing their relevance to exciting career paths demonstrated by our speakers.

“The power of connectivity allows us to bring these incredible speakers and activities directly into homes around the world free of charge.”

Mooving on Up!

Students explore Future Farming activity at this year’s Careers Hive

Mooving on up! Students Max Connolly and Amy Mills of Vale of Leven Academy pose alongside Elsie, a life-size Ayrshire dairy cow, as part of the Future Farming activity at Edinburgh Science’s annual week-long free schools event Careers Hive.

Initially developed in 2016, Careers Hive is an annual event from Edinburgh Science which inspires S1-S3 pupils to pursue a STEM-based career through hands-on activities and discussions with early-career STEM professionals. 

Careers Hive 2024 takes place for schools between 28 October and 1 November at the National Museum of Scotland, with a Public Open Day on 2 November.

Careers Hive offers a unique and fascinating insight that showcases STEM skills as transferrable to a wide range of sectors. 

Edinburgh Science inspires young people to get hands-on with STEM

  • Edinburgh Science inspires young people to get hands-on with STEM at this year’s Career Hive
  • This year’s panel speakers include a molecular biologist who started out grilling at Nando’s, an entomologist at National Museum Scotland, a climate activist, a celebrated wildlife filmmaker and a BBC software engineer who did an apprenticeship alongside schoolwork
  • Careers Hive offers a unique and fascinating insight that showcases
  • STEM skills as transferrable to a wide range of sectors
  • Schools only 28 October – 1 November Public Open Day on Sat 2 November

www.sciencefestival.co.uk

#CareersHive

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Edinburgh Science is pleased to announce the return of its annual Careers Hive, a week-long free schools event with a Public Open Day on Saturday 2 November.

Initially developed in 2016, Careers Hive inspires S1-S3 pupils to pursue a STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and maths) career through hands-on activities and discussions with early-career STEM professionals.

Careers Hive continues to work to showcase STEM skills as transferrable to a wide range of sectors and that further study of STEM subjects is helpful in many future careers.

Between 28 October and 1 of November at the National Museum of Scotland, Careers Hive can be accessed by prebooked school groups only with a Public Open Day on Saturday, 2 November. The event is set to welcome over 3,500 students across the week.

This year’s panel speakers come from a diverse range of backgrounds showing that there is no one path to a career in STEM.

They include Hannah De Angelis who dropped out of school at 15 and went from Nandos griller to Molecular Biologist via a degree in Pharmacology; Software Engineer Apprentice Abdurahman Khan whose unique path led him to now work for the BBC.

Also joining panel events will be biologist Milo Phillips, Digitisation Co-ordinator for the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, who is working to make the RBGE Herbarium available to everyone, everywhere; Modern Apprentice of the year SVQF Level 6 2024 Iona McGhie who is training in mechanical engineering whilst on apprenticeship with premium drinks firm Diageo; Electronics Manufacturing Engineer and Scottish Graduate Apprentice of the Year 2023 Fatima Asif;

Joining them will so be award-winning climate activist, environmental scientist, and ethical influencer Laura Young aka Less Waste Laura who started, and continues to lead, the campaign to see single-use disposable vapes banned across Scotland and the UK; and documentary director, tv presenter and wildlife photographer Libby Penman whose new documentary Back from the Brink, showcasing the amazing work of conservationists fighting to save wildlife across Europe, is now available on BBC iPlayer.

Pupils will be able to experience:

  • Grand Gallery Interactive Exhibition with four themed zones where they engage with STEM professionals and try out different hands-on activities related to real jobs, e.g. perform a keyhole surgery, insulate a house, build a robot or assemble a model of a space satellite.
  • The Think Tank, a dedicated space for pupils to informally chat one-on-one with STEM professionals and ask the questions that matter to them most.
  • Panel Discussions in the Auditorium during which they hear from early-career STEM professionals from a range of industries about their education and career stories.

Laura McLister Director of Programmes and Operations at Edinburgh Science said: “We are absolutely delighted to be back again in this amazing venue to run Careers Hive with so many fantastic volunteers, chatting and inspiring young people to the diverse opportunities available in the STEM sector.

“Our world is facing so many challenges for the future and STEM technologies, industries and organisations will be here to tackle them, but without dedicated and trained people we can’t overcome these challenges.

“Careers Hive is here to demonstrate that STEM professions need all sorts of skills and strengths from all sorts of people and are a real opportunity to young people thinking about their futures.”

A teacher participating in Careers Hive said: “One pupil told me as we entered the Museum ‘to be honest, I’m here for the day out of school’. Come the end of the visit, he was telling me which STEM careers he was interested in, and how the event changed his perceptions about STEM.

“It opened all the pupils’ eyes to the wider range of STEM jobs rather than just a scientist or an engineer.”

Edinburgh Science school projects reach around 60,000 people every year.

Careers Hive 2024 supporters:

Baillie Gifford, BlueFloat Energy & Nadara Partnership, Edina Trust, City of Edinburgh Council, Hitachi Energy, Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious, British Army, Edinburgh Airport, Institute of Acoustics, Maths Week Scotland, Muirhall Energy, Seebyte, STMicroelectronics and Vattenfall 

Edinburgh Science back on the road

Hot on the heels of their annual festival, Edinburgh Science are on the road again bringing hands-on science lessons to classrooms in a number of schools across the city as part of Generation Science. 

This fantastic programme sees science educators tour Scottish nurseries and primary schools delivering a range of engaging workshops and shows which are all linked to the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) – helping to inspire a new generation to explore the world of STEM. Running for over 30 years, Generation Science has delivered hands-on learning to over 1 million children!

Over the coming weeks, the Generation Science team will be bringing some of their shows and workshops to a number of local primary schools across Edinburgh as part of their Summer programme.

This year’s programme features 10 exciting interactive shows and workshops, including two brand new climate-focused activities Our Changing Climate and The Green Machine.

Programme:

https___www.edinburghscience.co_.uk_wp-content_uploads_2024_02_GenSci-Brochure-24-5.1-1Download

Edinburgh Tech Star wins at 2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards

2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards Winners Announced

Celebrating the Most Inspirational Women in STEM

The winners of the 2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards have been announced, celebrating the most inspirational women working in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Now in their 14th year, the awards shine a spotlight on the industry’s most exceptional talent from all stages of the career journey, from apprentices to C-suite, from the UK and beyond.

While the technology industry is pioneering, innovative and exciting in many ways, women only make up 26% of its workforce[1]. The absence of visible female leaders and role models remains a critical issue in the drive to attract, develop, retain, and advance the industry’s female talent.

A study of the everywoman in Tech community, in collaboration with Bupa, found that for 39% of women working in technology, the imposter phenomenon and the female role model deficit remained as their top challenges in achieving their career ambition.[2] 

The survey revealed that this scarcity of role models is prevalent across the board, with entry-level women recognising this in equal measure to women who have made it to the C-suite. The breadth and diversity of talent that the everywoman award programme uncovers every year continues to address a vital industry wide need.  

Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder of everywoman comments: ““As everywoman celebrates its 25th anniversary we are reminded that the impact role models have remains as powerful today as when we started.

“Role models serve not just as beacons of achievement, but also as tangible proof that success is attainable, providing a roadmap that others can use to navigate their career progression.

“We congratulate this year’s winners, who are a powerful group of role models that embody what women in tech want to see more of and our male allies who have a critical role to play in changing the landscape of technology.”

The DIGITAL STAR AWARD was awarded to Rose Ulldemolins, Tech School Lead at Lloyds Banking Group, from Edinburgh.

240314-220813-EWtech.jpeg

Since being reskilled Rose has done a variety of tech roles, from a full-stack Engineer to Engineering Community Lead and now to Tech School Lead.

With a passion for I&D, she Co-Chairs a 1,700 strong network ‘Women ConnecTech’, whose aim is to improve gender diversity in the industry.

This included running a program to upskill over 100 colleagues to be able to code. Following its success, she is now re-running this for over 250 people. 

Rose is relentless in her pursuit of gender equality, and fearlessly shares her vulnerabilities to establish safe and supportive environments where women can share their experiences and strive for excellence.

Yolande Young, CISO at Bupa Global & UK comments: “A huge congratulations to this year’s winners of the Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards.

“It’s testament to their achievements and the positions they hold, not just within technology, but also as positive and inspirational role models and leaders.

“The standard of entries was extremely high, reflecting the wealth of female talent in our industry. Everyone who was nominated should be extremely proud of their achievements. At Bupa we’re committed to ensuring that women are fully supported to fulfil their career ambitions. It was an honour to meet so many brave, caring, and responsible leaders who are working towards a bright future for our industry.”

With this year’s theme ‘Empower. Transform. Thrive.’, the 2024 Bupa everywoman in Technology Awards ceremony and dinner took place at The Park Plaza in London on 14 March 2024, after the annual everywoman in Technology Forum, where they welcomed over 600 tech industry leaders and stars.

To find out more about the winners or register your interest in next year’s awards, visit www.everywoman.com/techawards. 

@everywomanUK

#ewTechAwards 

Edinburgh schoolboys present sustainable building plans at the Houses of Parliament

A group of students from Scotland’s leading independent day and boarding school for boys, Merchiston Castle School, spoke at the Houses of Parliament in October as part of the British International Education Association’s Youth STEM Forum.

Five of Merchiston’s students were selected to speak at the Forum after winning the prestigious Sustainable Building Design Award in the British International Education Association’s international STEM competition.

Competing with hundreds of other schools from across the globe, including Poland, Pakistan, Canada and Spain, the Edinburgh pupils’ extensive research, pragmatic approach and pioneering design saw Merchiston receive the prestigious STEM award.

Fuelled by predictions that much of Leith will succumb to flooding by 2030, the boys designed a versatile, flood-resistant yet energy-efficient building.

The comprehensive final report showcased a meticulously crafted solution that could be adapted to diverse global locales, demonstrating the groups’ creativity, foresight, and pragmatism in addressing the climate emergency.

Mrs Chapman, Merchiston’s MerchiSTEM coordinator, said of the win: “The British International Education Association STEM competition allows pupils to come up with innovative solutions to real-world problems.

“This draws on and further develops a variety of skills our pupils already have, such as primary and secondary research, report writing, analysing information and visual presentation methods.

“Merchiston’s extracurricular STEM group, MerchiSTEM, embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, and we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved. Speaking at the Houses of Parliament about their design proposal was an incredible opportunity, and one I am sure the boys will not forget for some time!”

Fergus W, a member of Merchiston’s winning team, described the win as “incredibly rewarding”.

He added: “Speaking at the Houses of Parliament was a huge privilege, and we were very proud to be there – and grateful to our teachers for their support.

“As young people, we think it is very important for us to share our opinion on serious, current issues such as Climate Change as this will impact our future.

“We hope that we are listened to and considered in any future planning to do with sustainability so that we can contribute to planning and preparing for our future.”

Charity calls on First Minister to back young people as the solution to transforming the nation’s dying high streets 

Scottish charity TechFest is calling on First Minister Humza Yousaf to support its vision of transforming high streets throughout Scotland before it is too late, and they die completely.

TechFest promotes STEM to school pupils throughout Scotland. The TechFest Blueprint Challenge is back this year to support all S3 – S6 pupils as they play their role in saving the country’s high streets.  

The competition, aligned with the CREST Awards and grounded in STEM, asks students to come up with realistic ideas for regenerating failing high streets.

Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “Scotland’s high streets are dying, and regenerating them is a huge challenge. We need the First Minister’s help to place this at the forefront of the national and local agenda.

“Young people and their fresh perspectives deserve to be heard by decision-makers and they might just have the answers and ideas that will help transform high streets throughout the country.”

 _________________________________________________________________________________

Scottish Charity, TechFest, is urging the First Minister Humza Yousaf to get behind its goal and ambition to help transform high streets throughout the country.

Following a successful pilot year which brought a range of creative designs by students across Scotland, TechFest is once again challenging secondary school students across the country to redesign their high streets as part of TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge: A Future High Street.

TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge is a collaboration with Bluewater, a specialist private equity firm focused on global energy. The initiative has been developed through Bluewater’s charitable division to inspire children to think about future energy and how this can be integral to a better environment and social agendas.

However, this year as pupils return to school, the charity has written to the First Minister urging him to help raise awareness and drive positive engagement with Local Authority planners throughout the country to support the regeneration of Scottish high streets and give young people a seat at the decision-making table.

Bringing life back to the high street has been a hugely challenging task for local authorities and TechFest’s Blueprint Challenge has been designed to champion ideas that can help regenerate towns and cities throughout the country.

The competition is open to all S3 – S6 students who want to share their ideas on how to create a high street that allows society to thrive while celebrating the natural world at the same time.

Pupils are asked to take into consideration ‘’modern problems’’ surrounding architecture, economic stability, power generation and consumption, and how they can bring energy, technology and nature together to create a high street that meets Net Zero targets and encourages nature and community to grow.

The goal is a modern and progressive high street that is not simply about retail.

Sarah Chew, Managing Director of TechFest, said: “We need the First Minister’s help to place the transformation of our high streets at the forefront of the national and local agenda.  

“In the past decade there have been continued discussions, debates and reports on how to transform our high streets and make them fit for the future but despite various thought-provoking think tanks and reports, sadly we have seen little to no action.  

“The Scottish high street is in crisis, and we need urgent action to save them, that is why the TechFest Blueprint Challenge is a huge opportunity to champion the youth voice and help transform how we use our high streets.  

“Young people deserve to be heard and we need the First Minister to bring our high streets further up the agenda and help us develop more positive and meaningful engagement with local authorities across Scotland.”  

Schools have until September 11th to register a team ahead of the project launch on September 12th.  

Teams will work together to create a project summary by the end of November, followed by a presentation day in December, where they will display their projects to a panel of experts, with a further opportunity to display their work as part of TechFest’s Science Festival in May 2024.  

The competition is curriculum-aligned, and students and teachers will receive comprehensive support materials, including a series of online webinars with industry professionals and an opportunity for students to showcase their skills to the local community.

“Scotland has a strong heritage for innovation and shaping the modern world,” Sarah Chew added.

“The TechFest Blueprint challenge offers a huge opportunity to develop progressive and ground-breaking ideas that can be held up as best-practice throughout the world, whilst engaging with young people in a fun, meaningful and impactful way.”

Online Coding Summer Camps for kids

  • School’s out – but fun learning continues through coding summer camps
  • Virtual workshops for STEM stars of the future

A series of virtual summer camps to help children learn computer coding, game development and programming skills has been launched by Glasgow-based British Youth International College (BYITC).

Children aged 8 to 14 can sign up to the camps, which are hosted online, so are accessible to young people in any location.

The 2023 BYITC Summer Coding Camps last three days, with the first camp focusing on games and running on the 24th, 25th and 26th July.

The second Coding Camp takes place on 31st July, 1st and 2nd of August and will focus on Python – a popular programming language that can be used for a wide variety of applications, including building websites and creating software.

BYITC founder Dr Rashmi Mantri said: “The school holidays are the perfect time to combine fun with fascination – and our Summer Coding Camps will have plenty of both!

“The idea is to introduce young people to the world of coding and games development, while also powering their imaginations with a combination of hands-on activities, interactive workshops and project-based learning.”

Young people taking part in the BYITC Summer Coding Camps will use apps that introduce kids to coding, such as Scratch and Thunkable,9 and game creation platforms such as Roblox. Python programming topics will also be incorporated.

“We’ve carefully crafted the camp curriculum to provide a holistic learning experience that encompasses coding concepts, game design principles and the practical application of programming skills,” Dr Mantri said.

Each day of the Summer Coding Camps will run from 11am to 1pm and then 2pm to 4pm.

Dr Mantri, who has a PhD in Computer Science, founded BYITC in 2015 to teach maths using a counting tool that has been used for millennia – the abacus. BYITC has since expanded into online courses in English, programming and cyber security and runs 10 franchises globally – including Dubai and Sri Lanka.

Supermaths is BYITC’s most popular teaching programme and offers a mix of weekly teacher-led abacus maths classes and online tutorials.                                                                                                                                                             Thought to have been first used by the Babylonians, an ancient Middle Eastern civilization, as early as 2,400 BC, the abacus is known to be highly effective at training the brain to make mathematical calculations involving huge numbers.

For more information on the 2023 BYITC Summer Coding Camps visit:

https://www.byitc.org/glasgow-summer-games-dev-boot-camp-classes/

For more information, please contact Dr Rashmi Mantri, Managing Director at British

Youth International College, 267 Colston Road, Glasgow, G64 2BD.

Email: rashmi@byitc.org

Phone: 07423 215 162

www.byitc.org

www.supermaths.co.uk

Edinburgh Dynamic Earth programmes to help UK become a science superpower

From ‘Science Orchestras’ to ‘Science and Supper’ – Science and Discovery Centres across the UK have built programmes designed to reach under-represented young people in their communities

The Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) has released the results from 16 diversity and inclusion programmes for young people run in Centres across the UK. The activities have specifically been built to help tackle the diversity challenges currently faced throughout the Science Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) sector.

The programmes, funded by the Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), have been developed to help nurture and support the creative thinkers of today into diverse scientists, researchers, and innovators of the future.  

Over 10,000 children, young people and their families from traditionally under-represented and marginalised communities took part in the programmes, where they were encouraged to explore STEM on their terms in fresh, inclusive, and exploratory ways.

The ASDC and STFC supported projects dovetail with the March 23 Diversity and Inclusion STEM Report, released by Greg Clark MP, Chair of the House of Commons  Science & Technology Committee which states “STEM still has a diversity problem”.

Shaaron Leverment, Chief Executive of the ASDC commented “UK STEM industry and research is one of the most innovative and exciting sectors, but if it is to flourish for our future, there is no doubt that diversity is an issue.

“Our collective vision at ASDC is for a society where science is accessible, inclusive, and valued by all as a fundamental part of everyday life. This STFC-funded project shows how science and discovery centres provide so much more than just a fun day out – they open up new relationships and pathways in STEM across all ages, genders, backgrounds, geographies and abilities.

“We’re excited to see the mix of creativity and ingenuity of the outreach programmes run by our members. They are supporting a sense of belonging, value and ownership in STEM for a new cohort that may indeed become the future STEM innovators and solution-finders of tomorrow.”

Five of the programmes that have made an impact on their local communities are:

  • Aberdeen Science Centre – launched ‘Supper and Science’ which worked with families within the top 20% of the Scottish Index for Multiple Deprivation and were affected by the cost of living crisis, and encouraged them to take part and learnt to cook whilst also learning about the impact science and technology have on their daily lives.
  • Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh – in partnership with Tinderbox Sparks Youth Orchestra, formed a resident ‘science orchestra’ with 20 young people to highlight the connection between music and science, as well as compose music for Dynamic Earth’s new climate change planetarium show ‘Don’t Panic’. The orchestra performed for family and friends, as well as composing ‘Seascapes’ – a haunting accompaniment for footage of deep-sea creatures taken by the Schmitt Ocean Institute.
  • Jodrell Bank in Macclesfield – offered free trips for over 500 school groups and 80 families. Additionally, secondary school students participated in a ‘Girls Night Out’, an event celebrating women in science past, present and future and encouraged women to consider STEM careers, as well as supporting the centre in its mission to make ‘Space for everyone’.
  • National Space Centre IGNITE in Leicester – inspired by a young boy who wanted to go to attend ‘Space Club’ in Coalville but was unable to, the centre developed a community programme for children to get excited about Leicester’s role in space. The programme also demonstrated what career opportunities are available on their doorstep and the diversity of jobs available across the space sector.
  • We The Curious in Bristol – launched the ‘Space Science in Time of Crisis’ workshops with Year 9 and Year 10 students from Bristol who were encouraged to explore ‘Should space science be a priority in the current time of crisis?’ and develop a TikTok style video to share their perspectives.

Vanessa Vazquez, Community Engagement Coordinator at Aberdeen Science Centre commented on the initiatives “The STFC Impact Project brought science to communities, creating equal opportunities for all. It sparked curiosity, encouraged experimentation, and empowered individuals to take ownership.

“We witnessed incredible transformations, from a disinterested child becoming engaged and excited to them volunteering for experiments. This project went beyond checklists, exemplifying our dedication to uplifting communities. We will continue to make a positive impact, bringing joy and empowerment to every opportunity we encounter.”

Neville Hollingworth, STFC Public Engagement Manager, said: “We are incredibly proud to mark over a decade of successful collaboration between STFC and ASDC with these excellent results.

“In order for UK science and innovation to thrive, it is essential that communities who are under-represented in the STEM sector are engaged with the amazing stories that the science and technology community has to tell.

“These collaborations between STFC, ASDC, and community groups, young people, and families have inspired people across the UK to take an active role in science and provided fantastic opportunities for the benefit of all of society.”