Imperial College

10 Oct 2017

Katherine Mathieson

@Kath_math

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinemathieson

Making science a fundamental part of

society and culture.

September 2015

September 2015

Audience

model

September 2015

• It moves around the UK, hosted by leading STEM universities and extending into the host city and local communities;

• It celebrates the latest developments in science, engineering and technology;

• Allows people to engage in open discussion about issues that affect our culture and society;

• Hands-on events, debates, talks and performances;

• Aimed at young adults (16+) and adults, over 15,000 people attend;

• Press Centre generates national media coverage of scientific research and announcements. SWANSEA 2016

BRIGHTON 2017

HULL 2018

British Science Festival

Highlights film from 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJoGYKB3RjQ

Europe’s longest-established public science event connecting the public with

scientists, technologists, social scientists, artists and innovators.

Future Debates

Highlights of our flagship Future Debate

on robotics & autonomous systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BulX5OuwfrA

And our topic animation on genomics and

genome data privacy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7fCW1ed_5E

• Series of events around one theme (recent themes have included genome

data privacy, and robotics & autonomous systems);

• Approx. 20 local events – with speakers including local politicians, scientists and

technologists, campaigning groups, journalists; an audience of between 60 – 180

attend each event;

• Followed by one flagship event, to reflect on regional discussion and bring a

national policy perspective; drinks reception for stakeholders and VIPs;

• Local and national communications campaign, plus topic animation to introduce

the theme, spark discussion and drive footfall to local and national events.

British Science Week • UK-wide campaign to celebrate and showcase the

fun, breadth and ubiquity of science in our culture and

society;

• Thousands of schools, workplaces, and

communities - in every corner of the country - come

alive with science, technology, engineering & maths;

• An important calendar moment for many - from

local voluntary organisations to large cultural

institutions, it may be the only time in the year that

they focus on science content for their audiences;

• It offers a fun, informal and low risk participation

opportunity for underrepresented audiences who

might not usually be engaged in STEM;

• Over 2,500 events across the UK, almost 1million

participants reached;

• Activity packs and marketing materials have a reach

of over 100,000.

Highlights film from British Science Week 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mx4-3hRllA

Strengthening community engagement

• We believe that working with community

groups, who have direct access to under-

represented audiences, is a powerful way

of enabling new audiences to engage with

science. We support groups to run their

own activities through our Community

Grants programme.

• In 2016, over 16,000 people were

engaged and, of those, 76% were first

time participants. The top three reasons

for respondents’ attending were personal

interest (28%), wanting to learn

something new (25%), and being brought

by someone else (20%) of respondents.

• 95% rated the event they attended

positively, with the most popular words

used to describe events being

‘interesting’, ‘fun’ and ‘informative’.

We also have a programme of UK-

wide science busking (currently

supported by Siemens), that takes

engaging science activities into places

where people might not expect to

encounter science, including

carnivals, food festivals and shopping

centres.

CREST Awards• The CREST Awards programme is the BSA’s flagship

education scheme for 5-to-19-year-olds;

• Rather than presenting science as just a collection of

facts and equations, CREST recognises and rewards

young peoples’ own investigations. It gives students

an opportunity to complete a STEM project that takes

into account real world context;

• Enquiry-based learning not only allows students to get

hands-on with science, but also helps to inspire a wide

range of students at all levels;

• >50% CREST Awardees are girls;

• CREST reaches around 45,000 students each year

(across primary and secondary). In total, since the

programme’s inception three decades ago, over 400,000

students have participated.

Independent research shows CREST boosts grades

and increases likelihood of students continuing in STEM: http://www.britishscienceassociation.org/crestsilver-report

The Huxley Summit

• New, high profile thought leadership

event, providing a platform for business

leaders, policy makers and scientists

to debate key scientific and social

challenges facing the UK in 21st century;

• 2017 Summit takes place on 29 November,

on the theme of public acceptance of

innovation and new technologies

Watch the 2016 Huxley

Summit highlights film:https://www.youtube.com/wat

ch?v=Pt9_2lo6G3c&list=PLW

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Our strategy 2018 - 2020

We are currently preparing our new three-year organisational plan and are

seeking partners to help advance, amplify and fund our work.

To achieve our vision, there is a need to improve the inclusivity of science

engagement and outreach in the UK, and to reposition science as a cultural

endeavour, not just a professional one. This ambition lies at the heart of our

new strategy: we will take a strong and over-arching commitment to

diversity and inclusion.

Our strategic objectives:

1. Reaching under-served and disadvantaged audiences – c.75% of the UK

population identifies as not engaged in science. Our work, and the partnerships

we create, will give more people a chance to engage with and enjoy science.

2. Improving science education – we will campaign for young people’s

experience of science education to engage all students, not just future scientists;

empowering a generation of scientifically literate young people.

3. Influencing science organisations – we will drive the sector to be more

inclusive in its approach, engage with more diverse audiences and make better

use of evidence.

Katherine Mathieson

Chief Executive

British Science Association

T: 020 7019 4935 | M: 07502 419 223

cienceassociation.org

@kath_math

Contact