/ Grants at the Royal Society / Partnership Grants / Unique benefits of the Partnership Grants scheme

Young Researcher Zone

The Young Researcher Zone is an opportunity for schools to engage the general public with the STEM research being conducted across the UK via the Partnership Grants scheme including Tomorrow's Climate Scientists. The projects showcased in the Zone at the Summer Science Exhibition are featured alongside other exhibits from a range of institutions, sharing the cutting edge research being undertaken by their STEM professionals.

Young Researcher Zone 2025

Eighteen secondary schools attended the 2025 Summer Science Exhibition and presented their Partnership Grant projects to the public as part of the Young Researcher Zone. The schools attending were Beaulieu Convent School, Bedford School, Cheam High School, Cockermouth School, Cowbridge School, Crieff High School, Emmanuel College, Guru Nanak Sikh Academy, John F Kennedy Catholic School, Luton Sixth Form College, Morgan Academy, Morrison's Academy, Newstead Wood School, St Mary's Music School, Truro College, Webster's High School, Wilberforce Sixth Form College and Wyke Sixth Form College.

Each school created a poster summarising their project investigation and developed engaging hands-on activities to demonstrate a core process or skill used within the investigation. The students were able to share more about their project process and the unique experiences they had working with their STEM partner whilst talking to the visitors in person. Through participation in the Zone, the students developed their communication skills (specifically with the public and VIP audiences) and gained the experience of being part of a high profile scientific exhibition at the home of the world’s oldest national scientific society.

A video and selected photos of YRZ over the past few years can be found below.

A Young Researcher Zone school exhibitor explaining their research project to Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Partnership Grant students explaining their project to young visitors of the Summer Science Exhibition.

Young Researcher Zone students presenting their research project to visiting school children

Young Researcher Zone students explaining their research to visitors

Young Researcher Zone student exhibitors explaining their research project to visitors of the Summer Science Exhibition.

Young Researcher Zone students showing a visitor a slide through microscope

Professor Martyn Poliakoff attending one of the Young Researcher Zone stands.

How to get involved

The Summer Science Exhibition takes place every year at the start of July. The call for Partnership Grant holders to express their interest in taking part will be sent out via email from the Schools Engagement team during the autumn term.

If you would like to register your interest in advance, please contact the Schools Engagement Team.

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Teacher

Visiting the Royal Society and giving my students the opportunity to have this unique experience has been such a privilege. It has easily been the highlight of my career and I know that myself and my students will be talking about this for a long time to come. The Royal Society made our students feel like a valuable part of the exhibition and the Science community.
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Teacher

The chance to develop so many highly transferable and employability skills in your students, meeting so many great people and having such a lot of fun. The event itself is wonderful and there is so much to see and do when not on the stand. All the costs were met by the Royal Society so we were able to bring some students who would never normally be able to experience such a trip, and the Royal Society staff are amazing and so supportive!