ASDC December newsletter: Round-up of #ASDC24 | Award winners | New ASDC member | Upcoming events
Association for Science and Discovery Centres
Working with members to make science accessible, inclusive and valued as a fundamental part of our everyday lives.
ASDC Conference 2024 highlights and take aways
The ASDC Conference 2024 was a clarion call for change, actively encouraging over 240 delegates to rethink the future of science engagement. With its bold focus on inclusivity, collaboration, and societal impact, the event underscored that science cannot remain isolated—it must be fully embedded in society to drive real progress.
As the conversations moved from reflection to action, it became clear that science and discovery centres and museums are not just places of learning, but powerful catalysts for social change. The challenge is now clear: to disrupt the status quo, embrace diversity, and break down artificial silos that prevent science being part of culture. The energy and commitment from this year's conference have set the stage for a transformative future—one where science truly belongs to everyone.
Read the conference highlights
Announcing the 2024 ASDC Volunteer Award winners
The Marsh Charitable Trust with ASDC Volunteer awards give our members a chance to show their appreciation to their volunteers who go above and beyond to support the vision and mission of science and discovery centres and museums.
ASDC January Members’ Forum: Creating a shared content vault
8th January, 2 - 3pm
We’re starting 2025 with a forum to discuss how we can create a ‘shared content vault’ in order to facilitate ready-to-share STEM content between ASDC members. The content could be a public show, an exhibition, series of ready-to-go experiments or activities that members are happy to share with each other, for free or a fee. How might that work? What are the challenges? Would this be useful for your organisation?
Driving change together: New STFC grants for community-inclusive projects
ASDC is inviting proposals for projects that implement the?Valuing Inclusion Theory of Change?into your practice. This programme is a continuation of the work of?Explore Your Universe: Valuing Inclusion (2024)?with the objective to further refine and define the meaningful inclusive outcomes and their role as mechanisms of change, that nurture STFC STEM capital and STEM identity.
Grants of ￡9,500 and ￡4,000 are available to apply for by 17th January 2025.
If you would like to see a recording of the Bidders’ Q&A, or have any queries, please do get in touch.
STFC Masterclass: Emerging technologies to solve complex problems
12th February, 11am - 4.30pm
Sign up for this in-person masterclass, in partnership with STFC (part of UKRI), hosted by RAL Space Labs and National Quantum Computing Centre in Didcot, Oxfordshire. Immerse yourself for a day in cutting-edge UK science and technology, ask questions to the experts in the field and discuss engagement ideas with colleagues.
New ASDC member - The Lost Shore Surf Resort
The Lost Shore Surf Resort is Scotland’s first inland surf resort, found just outside of Edinburgh. Alongside their surf school, they offer a STEM Schools Outreach Programme, aiming to provide students with holistic, experiential learning opportunities that go beyond the traditional classroom environment.
Integrating physical activity, mental wellbeing, and academic enrichment, they cover topics ranging from the wave equation, coding, biodiversity, and microplastics.
Members’ news & events
The Royal Society needs your input!
There’s still time to contribute your thoughts and insight to The Royal Society ’s 40 year update for the “Public Understanding of Science” report, which paved the way for the development of the public engagement sector back in1985. The views of professionals from across the science discovery sector will be invaluable in shaping the recommendations the Society will ultimately advocate for.
Please register your views before December 24th and share with colleagues across the sector.
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Glasgow Science Centre win Climate Action Award
Glasgow Science Centre won the Climate Action Award at the Scottish Thistle Awards National Finals. The prestigious award celebrated a business, event or destination that had made demonstrable progress on their climate action journey to Net Zero.
The judges praised Glasgow Science Centre for the extensive range of measures we have taken to reduce carbon emissions, working closely with staff, customers, and the wider community.
Life Science Centre’s festive show gains international attention
‘What Santa Sees’ is a festive 360° full dome show produced by the International Centre for Life team which merges the magic of Christmas with science to introduce youngsters to astronomy. ?
It’s now being enjoyed across the world after being bought by planetaria in Lithuania, Poland, Australia, Scotland, and Bristol, as well as Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, USA – which has the third largest dome in the world.
National Astronomy Week
1st - 9th February 2025
Hosting an event during National Astronomy Week? Submit it here to be added to the official NAW events map.
Additionally, planetariums can sign up to present the ‘Chasing the Moon’ show, and an online resource repository can be accessed containing the daily themes, logos, social media content, and print-out activity sheets.
Festival of Tomorrow
10th - 22nd February
Festival of Tomorrow is an action packed exploration of the wonders of science, innovation and the arts, based in Swindon. In partnership with UKRI, the festival aims to share new discoveries and technologies, sparking conversations on how we can choose the future we want to see.
Dark Sky Observatory finds new home after blaze
More than three years after being destroyed by a fire, The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory is set to have a new home in Dumfries & Galloway on the banks of Clatteringshaws Loch within the Galloway Forest Park, Scotland’s only Gold Tier Dark Sky Park.
Do you want to present at The King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence?
The King’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence?is seeking expressions of interest from academics, researchers, students, practitioners, and others who are interested in presenting at the family day of the King's Festival of Artificial Intelligence 2025 (Saturday 24 May 2025). They are looking for proposed activities suitable for children between the ages of 4 and 14.?
STFC announce updated public engagement strategy
STFC have published a refreshed public engagement strategy. The document outlines their focus and priorities through 2024 to 2028, supporting the implementation of UKRI public engagement strategy.
Resources from Interact Symposium made accessible to all
The Interact Symposium was held in September 2024 at the Northumbria University, bringing together anyone interested in public engagement in the Physical Sciences in the UK.
All resources collected from this year’s event are now available for anyone to view and use.
Upcoming ASDC events, sector-wide jobs and funding opportunities are listed on our website sciencecentres.org.uk. To share news from your STEM organisation in our next newsletter please email [email protected]