Science and Technology Facilities Council

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Science and Technology Facilities Council

• Science in Society programme

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Science and Technology Facilities Council a
research funding agency

• Astronomy
• Nuclear Physics
• Particle Physics
• Space Science
• Plus computational science energy technology
  areas including particle accelerators lasers
  sensors cryogenics nanotechnology energy
  production imaging optics advanced electronics

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Science and Technology Facilities Council
research facilities

• UK Astronomy Technology Centre
• - at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh
• www.roe.ac.uk Visitor Centre

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Science and Technology Facilities Council
research facilities

• Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science
  and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire
• Includes Lasers, Space research, Particle
  Physics, ISIS Neutron Source
• Also Diamond Light Source

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Science and Technology Facilities Council
research facilities

• Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus, Cheshire
• Includes Synchrotron Radiation source

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Science and Technology Facilities Council
International partnerships

• European Space Agency
• European Southern Observatory
• CERN (inc. the Large Hadron Collider)
• Isaac Newton Group Telescopes, La Palma
• Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii
• European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
• Institut Laue-Langevin

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Science in Society Why do we do it?

• What is science communication/Public and Schools
  Engagement/Public Understanding of
  Science/Science and Society and why do it?

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Science in Society - Objectives

• To inspire young people to continue studying
  science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM)
  courses and to consider STEM based careers.
• To stimulate and respond to public interest in
  STFC funded research and technology
• To support encourage and support researchers who
  wish to undertake public and schools engagement
  with STFC science and technology

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Who are our Key Audiences?

• 11 16 year olds and their teachers
• Science inclined public
• Opinion formers
• Previously unengaged audiences

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Science in Society Why do we do it?

• To inspire young people to continue studying STEM
  courses and to consider STEM based careers.
• To ensure UK taxpayers have an appreciation and
  awareness of the work that STFC is funding on
  their behalf.
• To support UK universities to continue to produce
  quality researchers in astronomy, space science,
  particle physics and nuclear physics
• The UK's front rank contribution in these fields
  is maintained and is recognised by opinion
  formers.
• The UK is recognised internationally as a leading
  nation in science and technology.

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Who do Swindon Office SiS work with to achieve
their objectives?

• Lab staff
• Researchers (STFC grant holders and others)
• Science and discovery centres
• Science communication professionals
• Educational support organisations
• Triple Science Support
• STEMNET
• Science Learning Centre Network
• Specialist Schools and Academies Trust
• Teachers
• Amateur enthusiasts astronomical socs etc

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What we offer - Visits

• Open afternoons
• Opportunities to visits our facilities and meet
  the scientists and engineers
• Talking Science
• Competitions, masterclasses, shows, lectures
  special activities taking place at the labs
• Royal Observatory Edinburgh Visitor Centre
• Visits to the centre and events in schools

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Why should researchers be science communicators?

• They have access to the most up to date results
  and information
• They should understand the research far better
  than anyone else
• They provide a human face to the science
  knowledge
• They can be a role model to young people

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Why should researchers be science communicators?
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Why should researchers be science communicators?
Public Attitudes to Science 2008 RCUK/DIUS
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What we offer - Funding

• Specifically for Schools
• STFC/IOP Schools Grants 500 ongoing
• www.iop.org
• Our activities Schools and Colleges Teacher
  Support - Grants
• For all, in partnership with researchers
• Small Awards up to 15,000 2 rnds p.a.
• Science Centres up to 25,000 2 rnds p.a.
• Large Awards up to 100,000 1 round p.a.

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What we offer Resources etc.

• Schools Officer
• Presence at major educational exhibitions
• Supporting exhibitions and events
• Meteorite and Moonrock loan scheme
• Publications
• Currently Astronomy, Space and Particle Physics
• Posters
• Wall charts
• Booklets
• Lesson plans
• Corporate brochures
• Websites
• Multimedia resources and TV programmes

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What we offer Public and Schools campaigns to
accompany big themes

• Recent examples
• UK Goes to the Planets
• Large Hadron Collider
• International Year of Astronomy 2009

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Working with RCUK

• HEI Beacons for Public Engagement
• Higher Education institutions with a remit for
  working with researchers and other organisations
  to have a significant impact on the field of
  public engagement
• www.rcuk.ac.uk/sis/beacons.htm
• Researchers in Residence
• Facilities a mutually beneficial relationship
  between researchers and secondary schools,
  providing training for the researcher and quality
  experiences for pupils.
• BA CREST Awards
• Nationally recognised accreditation scheme for
  science and technology project work. Funded by
  Astra Zeneca and Research Councils UK.

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Working with RCUK

• Contemporary Science in the Classroom CPD scheme
  for teachers with Science Learning Centres
• Research update courses for teachers.
• Nuffield Bursaries
• Support for student work placements during the
  summer
• www.schoolscience.co.uk
• Single portal for all e-resources.

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For further information

• Contact
• Chris Woolford
• chris.woolford_at_stfc.ac.uk or 01793 442098
• Gareth James
• Gareth.james_at_stfc.ac.uk or 01793 442175
• Tony Buckley
• a.g.buckley_at_stfc.ac.uk or 01925 603272
• Visit www.scitech.ac.uk Public and Schools