Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC)

Promotional image for "The Science Teaching Survey 2026" by the Royal Society of Chemistry, featuring logos of The Royal Society, Royal Society of Biology, IOP Institute of Physics, and ASE. Includes colorful abstract shapes. Text reads: "What's missing in science education? Tell us what you need."

The Science Teaching Survey 2026 is open! If you work in education, you know the challenges better than anyone so we want to hear from you. Take 15 mins to complete the survey. Your answers will tell us what to focus on and shape our support.
📆 Survey closes 27 March
🔗 https://bit.ly/4aZ5OU6

ASDC March Members' Forum: Member tours and staff swaps ASDC March Members' Forum: Member tours and staff swaps

In this free online event, we'll hear how other organisations have already benefitted from visiting colleagues, and how you can organise a visit of your own.

Please note: this event is open to ASDC members only.

www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/asdc-...

Each ASDC member provides their own unique flavour of public engagement. Our network is full of knowledge, inspirational ideas and fresh perspectives on science communication, making it a powerful tool for professional development.

ASDC March Members' Forum: Member tours and staff swaps ASDC March Members' Forum: Member tours and staff swaps

Calling all ASDC members!

🔁 Ever thought about doing a science centre staff swap? 🔁

In March's forum we'll be discussing how to harness our network through project-linked staff swaps and self-directed member tours.

Wednesday 4th March, 2-3pm

Register ⬇️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/asdc-...

JOSH AWARD 2026 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

The winner of this national award in science communication and engagement will develop and deliver a new project to run at Science Festivals, Science Discovery Centres, or other outreach events. Full details at big.uk.com/josh/

Deadline 10 April 2026.

BIG Event 2026 Registration is Open Now!

Join us at the National STEM Learning Centre 15-17 July for top quality skills sharing, networking and our famous Best Demo competition!

Early bird tickets and our bursary scheme are now open, with early bird closing 31 March!

www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026

Space Community of Practice: Mini space grants Space Community of Practice: Mini space grants

Find out more about the events happening at @mathsworld.com, @orielscience.bsky.social, @centreofthecell.bsky.social, Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium and Armagh Observatory & Planetarium www.sciencecentres.org.uk/projects/our...

Her Place in Space: Astronomy Evening - Xplore Welcome to Xplore! Science Discovery Centre. We are the home of science in North Wales. You'll find us full to the brim with science, exploration, and fun.

Shout out to Xplore! Science Discovery Centre and the upcoming 'Her place is space' event - a special Astronomy evening celebrating women in space and inspiring girls to be part of what comes next... 👩🏾‍🚀 🚀

www.xplorescience.co.uk/event/her-pl...

Today is UNESCO's International Day of Women and Girls in Science! This year, with funding from UK Space Agency, science and discovery centres around the UK are running events to spotlight women in science and encourage girls to see themselves as scientists.

screenshot from the ASDC website showing the upcoming AI update event

screenshot from the ASDC website showing the upcoming Feb members' forum on LGBTQ+ and inclusivity

screenshot from the ASDC website showing the upcoming Space Community Call

screenshot from the ASDC website showing the upcoming Next Gen Earth event

A quick reminder of the upcoming ASDC events for project partners, members and the wider public engagement community. For timings, further details and to register please visit the events and training page on our website - www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/

Parliamentlive.tv Westminster Hall

"SDCs are not optional extras, but vital national assets"

An incredible speech delivered by @stevewitherdenmp.bsky.social at the Westminster Hall debate yesterday. We were glued to Parliament TV 👀
Watch again here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Parliamentlive.tv - Commons

So, put the time in your calendar -

📆 14th January, 2.30pm-4pm,

and don't forget to tune in here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons

During the debate, we eagerly anticipate hearing from MPs from across the political spectrum and all four corners of the UK, strongly expressing their support for their local science and discovery centres and the contribution our sector makes to national science and STEM engagement and skills.

These recommendations have widespread support among stakeholders and the public.

More than 3,100 leading scientists, academics, business leaders, and educators signed an Open Letter backing the recommendations, which was formally delivered to Ministers in November 2025.

Science Centres For Our Future Science Centres For Our Future

3️⃣Establish a long-term capital renewal fund to secure the sector’s future at the cutting edge of STEM engagement

You can find out more about the Science Centres For Our Future campaign here future.sciencecentres.org.uk

1️⃣Recognise science and discovery centres as part of the UK's scientific and cultural ecosystem

2️⃣Address science centres’ urgent capital needs, providing funding that can be matched by centres to address immediate infrastructure risks

And finally...

The debate was secured, and will be led, by @stevewitherdenmp.bsky.social, MP for the Centre for Alternative Technology.

Focusing on the policy asks of the Science Centres For Our Future campaign, we are urging ministers to take substantive action to:

Parliamentlive.tv - Commons

Tomorrow (14th January), 2.30pm-4pm, a Westminster Hall debate on the impact of Science and Discovery Centres on national science and technology priorities is set to take place.

Tune in to the live stream on the Parliament Live website: www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons

Find out more in the thread ⬇️

As an announcement, the post does not have a CTA per se - it's a launch of the project which will be ongoing (across the fifteen centres) over the next few months - us sharing that this project is happening. We've reposted with a bit more clarity on said project though, so appreciate your feedback.

ASDC launches national science engagement programme ‘Demystifying AI’ ASDC launches national science engagement programme ‘Demystifying AI’

Demystifying AI is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with project development from Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC, part of UKRI).

Find out more, and if there's a participating centre near you, in our news article below ⬇️

www.sciencecentres.org.uk/news/asdc-la...

Events will include interactive exhibits, science busking, discussion panels, planetarium shows, and careers and schools talks.

In some centres, the public will have direct access to scientists and engineers using AI in a wide range of fields, from medical to environmental.

The fifteen participating organisations will run events that aim to turn some of the complex ideas and technologies behind AI into meaningful, interactive experiences. In total, Demystifying AI events will reach a total of 70,000 people across the UK over three months.

Map of the United Kingdom and Ireland showing 15 science centres and museums running the ‘Demystifying AI’ programme. Locations are marked across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including Aberdeen Science Centre (Aberdeen), Dundee Science Centre (Dundee), Dynamic Earth and Edinburgh Science (Edinburgh), International Centre for Life (Newcastle), National Space Centre (Leicester), STEM Discovery Centre (Stevenage), Exeter Science Centre (Exeter), We The Curious (Bristol), Techniquest (Cardiff), Oriel Science (Swansea), Thinktank (Birmingham), Xplore! (Wrexham), W5 (Belfast), and Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Armagh). The Association for Science and Discovery Centres logo appears in the top right.

We're pleased to announce the launch of a new national science engagement programme 'Demystifying AI'!

Fifteen organisations have received funding to support young people, families, schools and communities to understand AI in everyday life and careers and skills development in AI.

Read more 🔽

Hi @tinymattresses.bsky.social - thanks for asking for clarity. Fifteen organisations (listed in full on the linked news page) have received funding to run AI engagement activities/events for their audiences. This post is an announcement of the overall project.

Colour-in mood characters An engaging and fun way to consider and express emotions and involvement in sessions. This chart explores whether participants felt inspired, excited, or bored, left out and out-of-depth.With particip...

Huge thanks to @sciencecentres.bsky.social for making this child-friendly feedback collection resource public. If you want to try it out yourself, you can download it here: inclusion.sciencecentres.org.uk/evaluating-i...

Navigating eco-anxiety together Navigating eco-anxiety together

Final call for the 'Navigating eco-anxiety together' session tomorrow, Wed 10th Dec (10-12pm), with speakers Dr Caroline Hickman and Dr Helen Featherstone. This free online event is open to all ASDC members. Register now 👇 www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/navig...

December Members’ Forum: The Festive Forum By Association for Science and Discovery Centres

❄️ Come along to the ASDC Festive Forum! ❄️

We'll be celebrating the season with -

🚀 An announcement of mini space engagement grants
🎙️ The premiere of ASDC's audio time capsule (as recorded at this year's conference)
✨ Highlights from the year
❓ A festive fun quiz

Register here: tktp.as/EHKJIQ

Thank you for sharing the 'Science Centres For Our Future' campaign. The open letter, signed by over 3,100 leading scientists and stakeholders was sent to
@primeministeruk.bsky.social today. The work continues for fairer funding for the UK's science and discovery centres.

Science Centres For Our Future Science Centres For Our Future

Find out more about the campaign future.sciencecentres.org.uk

They will need to operate more commercially and withdraw free and subsidised access, undermining their core purpose and charitable mission of increasing access to STEM opportunities for everyone.

#ScienceCentresForOurFuture