Great Science Share for Schools partners with the Royal Society

A partnership between the Great Science Share for Schools and the Royal Society, the UK’s national science academy, aims to inspire more young people than ever before to ask and investigate the scientific questions that matter to them.

The Society has been a long-standing ambassador of the Great Science Share for Schools, and its mission to champion the importance of science in schools and our everyday lives. This partnership will help expand the scheme to more schools, dig deeper into pupils’ questions and cement the Great Science Share for Schools in the education calendar.

Each year, the award-winning campaign encourages 5-14-year olds to share their scientific questions and investigations - from “how can we reduce plastic pollution?” to “can we stop bubbles popping?”. By championing curiosity and collaboration, the Great Science Share for Schools aims to raise the profile of science in schools and at home.  Since its inception, the campaign has reached over 200,000 young people nationally and internationally, with activities in 14 countries last year and this year promises to be bigger than ever.

The Great Science Share for Schools also invites leading scientists to answer questions about what attracted them to a career in science, engineering and other STEM disciplines and the questions that inspire them. This year, Professor Brian Cox, Royal Society Professor of Public Engagement, The University of Manchester will host a special event on 15 June 2021 which will answer pupils’ questions about climate change and the natural world. There will also be video updates from schools taking part in the Royal Society Tomorrow’s Climate Scientists programme, who have been leading their own investigations into their local environment in partnership with local researchers.

Dr Lynne Bianchi, Great Science Share for Schools Director, The University of Manchester, said: “This partnership with the Royal Society is an exciting opportunity to engage more young people in sharing their own scientific questions.  The timing is perfect as together we promote why science is so important in our lives, and celebrate the scientific curiosity and communication of primary and secondary pupils across the UK.  We can’t wait to see the difference we can make together in 2021.”

Professor Cox, said: “Partnering with the Great Science Share for Schools will inspire young scientists by celebrating working together to tackle our scientific questions. The people behind history’s biggest breakthroughs didn’t do it alone; they shared ideas, learned from and collaborated with scientists around the world. Science has always been, and will always be, a collaborative endeavour. This is even more true today if we are to address big challenges like tackling climate change, visiting new planets or, equally importantly, simply following our curiosity and generating new knowledge. Through schemes like its Partnership Grants, the Society already helps bring together schools and scientists to let pupils investigate the questions that matter to them. Partnering up is a brilliant way to extend these opportunities even further.”