Links
Association for Science and Discovery Centres
Association for Science and Discovery Centres represents over fifty Science & Discovery Centres and Museums throughout the UK, with 20 other organisations as affiliated members.
Association for Science and Discovery Centres encourages excellence and innovation in informal science learning by serving and linking our member centres, and advancing their common goal of inspiring, involving and engaging people of all ages and backgrounds with science.
Web: www.sciencecentres.org.uk
BIG (British Interactive Group)
BIG is the organisation for people involved in interactive education projects in the UK.
Web: www.big.uk.com
Biology4All
Biology4All is a database of over 400 university academics and researchers who work in the Life Sciences and are willing to visit local schools and colleges to give talks on their subject specialism.
Web: www.biology4all.com
British Science Association
The British Science Association exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. For well over 25 years, the Association has been involved in leading science and technology enhancement and enrichment activities and currently runs the CREST and CREST Star Investigator award schemes. Other programmes include the British Science Festival, National Science and Engineering Week and the Science Communication Conference.
Web: www.britishscienceassociation.org
Geological Society
The Geological Society is the learned society and professional body for geologists in the UK and has an interest in promoting geological sciences at all levels. It produces a range of teaching resources, information on which can be found on the website.
Web: www.geolsoc.org.uk
The Institute of Biology (IOB)
A professional body for UK biologists that support science educators by organising competitions, events and courses as well as giving schools posters, CD-ROMs and a newsletter to help you to help your pupils.
Web: www.iob.org
The Institute of Ideas (IOI)
The Institute of Ideas' mission is to expand the boundaries of public debate by organising conferences, discussions and salons, and publishing written conversations and exchanges.
Institute of Physics
The Institute of Physics is a scientific membership organisation devoted to increasing the understanding and application of physics. It has an extensive worldwide membership (currently over 34,000) and is a leading communicator of physics with all audiences from specialists through government to the general public. Its publishing company, IOP Publishing, is a world leader in scientific publishing and the electronic dissemination of physics.
Web: www.iop.org
Researchers in Residence
Researchers in Residence facilitates a mutually beneficial relationship between researchers and secondary school students by placing researchers (PhD and post doctoral) in secondary schools across the UK.
This is achieved through the placement of researchers in schools throughout the UK with funding from the Research Councils UK and the Wellcome Trust.
Web: www.researchersinresidence.ac.uk
The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
The RSC supports chemistry teaching in a multitude of ways. It produces a variety of teaching resources in a range of media - books, CD ROMs and online material. It also provides guidance on curriculum matters and input into science education policy.
For students there are careers resources and events such as Chemistry at Work to stimulate interest in careers in science. The RSC also runs competitions such as Chemistry Olympiads and the RSC Bill Bryson Prize. The RSC works with Salters to run Chemistry Camps and Festivals of Chemistry.
Science & Engineering Ambassadors (SEAs)
Did you know there are thousands of people using STEM in their work who are willing to come and help your students get excited about science, technology, engineering and maths? Environmental scientists, civil engineers, marine biologists, medical physicists, apprentices, professors, digital designers, financial modellers, energy analysts and many more. The Science and Engineering Ambassadors (SEAs)programme is co-ordinated nationally by STEMNET and managed sub-regionally by organisations holding SEAs Management Contracts.
SEAs are all volunteers who are willing to give their time and energy to help you enthuse your students about STEM subjects and illustrate how STEM is used in the world around them. They are available to support the activities included in this directory or to help you with any other STEM-related activity you wish to run - at the same time acting as role models for careers in and/or from STEM.
Web: www.stemnet.org.uk
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government supports science engagement through a grant programme run by the
Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser, established in August 2006. Supported projects may
complement and enhance the school curriculum, take science into communities across Scotland,
provide professional development for science communicators, or further the aims of the Scottish
Science Centres Network Strategy.
Collaboration is a key theme, and many of the funded projects involve partnerships with several
organisations, to prevent duplication, share best practice, and ensure good value for money.
Web: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/science
STEMNET
STEMNET aims to ensure that more young people in the UK make a choice to enter STEM-related careers at all levels, and future generations are properly informed about the science and technology that surrounds them. With the support of its partners, it achieves this in two ways:
- By bringing STEM activities, experiences and excitement into classrooms throughout the UK, enhancing and enriching the curriculum.
- By linking those companies and other organisations that employ STEM educated people, and schools, in such a way that young people can get a clear idea of the diverse and exciting range of careers available to them.
Web: www.stemnet.org.uk
STEMPOINTS
STEMNET has recently awarded STEMPOINT contracts to a network of local organisations which understand the landscape of STEM Enhancement & Enrichment and are able to help you identify which schemes or activities can best help you meet your school/college and student needs.
Organisations holding STEMPOINT contracts are there to help you in a number of ways. For example they can:
- Provide you with information on the STEM schemes and activities available to you, including those in this directory and other schemes specific to your local area.
- Work with you to understand the specific requirements of your school and students, and what kind of activity may be appropriate for you.
- Based on a knowledge of the evaluation of activities, recommend specific activities to you or help you choose between various options.
- Collect your feedback on activities and use this to help scheme providers improve their offerings.
Web: www.stemnet.org.uk
STEM Directories
The STEM Directories have been created in direct response to teachers' needs. They comprise a collection of schemes and activities provided by organisations from across the UK that aim to enhance and enrich the curriculum. These schemes are usually based around events or experiences that cannot be delivered with standard school contacts and resources. Each activity is linked to the curriculum so that the impact of the experiences and outcomes can be sustained.
Web: www.stemdirectories.org.uk
STEM Scotland
This website offers information about opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). It is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered by the 4 Scottish STEMNET contract holders to offer schools and communities information about a wide range of STEM engagement opportunities available to schools and colleges, including the Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme, the Scottish science centres and science festivals in Scotland.
Web: www.stemscotland.com
Women into Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE)
The WISE campaign collaborates with industry and education to encourage UK girls of school age to value and pursue STEM or construction related courses in school or college, and move on into related careers.
Large numbers of girls are qualified in STEM subjects, but most choose to move into different careers. WISE has links, games and resources on its website to encourage girls to think differently about their lives, challenge their pre-conceptions, and seriously consider STEM careers. WISE also has examples of good practice and templates on their website to support teachers, and links to female Science and Engineering Ambassadors who will visit schools.