ASDC Conference: Shaping the future of science together: Full Schedule

ASDC Conference 2024: Shaping the future of science together
18-19th November, The Royal Society, London

Welcome to the ASDC Conference 2024, a vibrant inclusive event for everyone in the science engagement community and wider STEM sector to come together for collaboration, inspiration, and growth. The conference programme of talks, workshops, networking sessions and discussions will explore how we shape the future of science in our rapidly changing world.

Take a virtual tour around the Royal Society to see what it’s like inside before the conference starts.

We’d love to see your photos, videos and thoughts on social media, please share with us using #ASDC24.

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8:30am GMT

Registration & pastries

Tuesday November 19, 2024 8:30am - 9:00am GMT

Reception

Start the day with a cup of tea or coffee and a pastry.

Tuesday November 19, 2024 8:30am - 9:00am GMT
Reception

Registration

9:10am GMT

Keynote: Science and Culture: A Shared Endeavour for All

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:10am - 9:40am GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Professor Tom Crick, MBE

Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Professor Tom Crick MBE is Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Professor of Digital Policy at Swansea University. His academic interests sit at the research-policy-practice interface, identifying and addressing domain... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:10am - 9:40am GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Keynote

9:50am GMT

Costing the Earth? How organisations can change their buying for a fair and sustainable future

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:50am - 10:40am GMT

Wolfson Rm 2

Speakers

Elise Foster Vander Elst

Head of Exhibitions and Environmental Impact Lead, Design Museum

Elise Foster Vander Elst has over two decades experience of creating cultural impact through exhibitions, events and action research. Elise is currently Head of Exhibitions and Environmental Impact Lead at the Design Museum. In this role she leads a team to deliver up to ten exhibitions... Read More →

Chris Dunford

Sustainability and Science Director, We The Curious

As Sustainability and Science Director, Chris Dunford has been responsible for ‘Sustainable Futures’ at We The Curious since 2011. During that time, he has introduced a sector-leading programme of environmental best practice, innovative technologies, and organisational change... Read More →

Ella Norwich

Sustainability Coordinator, We The Curious

Ella is the Sustainability Coordinator at We The Curious and the newest member of the Sustainable Futures Team, having joined in April 2023. Her role involves wearing many hats, from coordinating a cross-departmental team focused on sustainability initiatives to processing... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:50am - 10:40am GMT
Wolfson Rm 2

Panel presentation

9:50am GMT

Inclusive and equitable outcomes: A model for evaluation

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:50am - 10:40am GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Jen DeWitt

Research & Evaluation Consultant, Freelance

Jen is as a freelance research and evaluation consultant, specialising in STEM engagement and participation, with a particular focus on equity and social justice. A recovering academic, she has worked on the ASPIRES and Enterprising Science projects as part of the core team developing... Read More →

Sophie Bartlett

Educational Researcher

Dr Sophie Bartlett is an educational researcher and evaluator based at Cardiff University and the International Astronomy Union’s Office of Astronomy for Education. Sophie’s research uses both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore how individuals construct attitudes... Read More →

Shaaron Leverment

Chief Executive, The Association for Science and Discovery Centres

Shaaron is the CEO of ASDC and has over 20 years' experience working in science engagement and education. She stands for the value of science centres and museums for social good, as community assets that are accessible and relevant for a more diverse public.Shaaron joined ASDC in... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 9:50am - 10:40am GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Workshop

10:40am GMT

Break and refreshments

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:40am - 11:10am GMT

City of London rooms

Time for networking, talking to exhibitors and refreshments.

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:40am - 11:10am GMT
City of London rooms

Break

11:10am GMT

Live Skip the Q podcast panel

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:10am - 12:00pm GMT

Wolfson Rm 1

Speakers

Paul Marden

CEO, Rubber Cheese

Paul is the CEO of Rubber Cheese, and the co-host of Skip the Queue. He’s a trustee of Kids in Museums and a school governor, and runs a coding club for primary school children.He loves murder mysteries, sci-fi films, and for some reason carries a piece of lego with him whenever... Read More →

Shaaron Leverment

Chief Executive, The Association for Science and Discovery Centres

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:10am - 12:00pm GMT
Wolfson Rm 1

11:10am GMT

Unleashing the power of the science centre to shift the direction of research

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:10am - 12:00pm GMT

Wolfson Rm 2

Speakers

Anya Skatova

Director of Digital Footprints Lab, University of Bristol

Dr Anya Skatova is Director of Digital Footprints Lab at the University of Bristol and UKRI Fellow. She is a behavioural scientist, who studies how novel digital footprint data can be used to understand human behaviour and real-life outcomes, such as health. You can find more information... Read More →

Nik Mistry

Head of Curiosity, Wonderseekers

Previously, an academic and secondary science teacher, Nikhil is Head of Curiosity at Winchester Science Centre. He leads the scientific and pedagogical steer for engagement content creation at the centre. Nikhil has been in science communication since 2010, including the running... Read More →

Joe Daly

Open City Research Programme Developer, We The Curious

Joe Daly (they/them) is the Open City Research Programme Developer for We The Curious. They work with researchers to co-create fun interactive activities for visitors contribute to and influence active research happening in the South West. Prior to joining We The Curious they... Read More →

Graham Johnson

Open City Research Manager, We The Curious

Graham Johnson (he/they) is Open City Research Manager at We The Curious. The Open City Research team work on active research projects - both with academics and community researchers - and seek to shift the understanding of what a science centre is. Graham comes to We The Curious form an... Read More →

Emily Mace

Director of Science Engagement, Wonderseekers

Emily joined Wonderseekers nearly 10 years ago as a STEM Officer and has risen through the ranks to Director of Science Engagement. Emily was previously in secondary education, specialising in SEND pedagogy and before that worked as an Ecologist. Emily leads the charities scientific... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:10am - 12:00pm GMT
Wolfson Rm 2

Panel presentation

11:10am GMT

Providing meaningful work and subject experience programmes for young people interested in STEM

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:10am - 12:00pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

David Jones

Community Liaison Manager, International Centre for Life

David has been Life’s Community Liaison Manager for nearly 7 years. He works closely with a wide range of communities including autistic, deaf, sight loss, African, Asian, seeking to improve accessibility for all. This relationship building has led to the creation of volunteering... Read More →

Jenny Search

Head of Schools and Community Engagement, International Centre for Life

Jenny is the Head of Schools and Community Engagement at Life. She manages the team that develop and deliver activities to the school and community groups that visit Life as well as outreach programmes into schools and communities. Life’s community engagement programme works with... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 11:10am - 12:00pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Workshop

12:10pm GMT

Informally formal: How science centres collaborate effectively with formal and higher learning organisations and researchers

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:10pm - 1:00pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

A panel discussion about formal education and academic research on science engagement and how these link with informal science engagement in science centres. Insights from young people engaged by the Science Education Tracker project will be included, alongside discussion on how science centres engage with formal learning providers, and how universities and researchers are involved in changing the outlook for collaborative working across academia and informal science organisations.

Charlotte Coales from Imperial College will host the panel comprising Becca Gooch from EngineeringUK, Kimberley Freeman from the Royal Society, Judith Harvey from W5 Science Centre in Belfast, and Caitlin MacInnes from Dundee Science Centre.

Speakers

Caitlin MacInnes

STEM Development Lead , Dundee Science Centre

Caitlin MacInnes (they/she) oversees the development of all the varied STEM engagement Dundee Science Centre - from Space Camps to festivals and everything in between. They work closely with a team of excellent science communicators to deliver meaningful science experiences to people... Read More →

Judith Harvey

Group Head of Learning & Engagement, W5 The Odyssey

Becca Gooch

Head of Research, EngineeringUK

Becca is a researcher with 10 years’ experience researching education, skills, employment, and diversity. She is currently Head of Research at EngineeringUK, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be inspired, informed and... Read More →

Charlotte Coales

Engagement Manager, Imperial College London

As Engagement Manager for capacity building within the central Public And Community Engagement team at Imperial College London, Charlotte leads on providing training and support for staff and students to develop their public engagement skills and ideas. With a BSc (Hons) in Ecology... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:10pm - 1:00pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Panel presentation

12:10pm GMT

Reflecting on Racial Equity: Finding space to develop our understanding and approach to inclusive and racially equitable engagement practices

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:10pm - 1:00pm GMT

Wolfson Rm 2

Are you making space for reflection? How are you developing your understanding and approach to inclusive and racially equitable practices?

The National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) is committed to challenging inequity in, through, and by the work we do. As part of this we have been running a racial equity action learning programme, giving public engagement professionals space to reflect on their work and develop their approach to inclusive and racially equitable engagement practices.

Join us to hear from participants and facilitators of the action learning programme, and how making space for reflection has supported their work around racial equity. You will learn about the challenges and opportunities of reflective practice, and hear tips for embedding reflective practice into your own work. Together, we’ll create a ‘case for space’ resource to help you advocate for reflective practice in your organisation.

Find out more about NCCPE’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work by visiting our EDI hub.

Speakers

Alison Wright

Senior Project Officer, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement

Alison runs the NCCPE’s inclusion projects and training offer, as well as coordinating a number of culture change programmes. She previously worked at the University of the West of England managing projects focused on Professional Development and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships... Read More →

Maddy Foard

Senior Project Manager, National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement

Maddy oversees the NCCPE’s portfolio of engagement platforms, including the Public Engagement Professionals Network and the Engage Conference. Before joining the NCCPE, Maddy was at The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres managing the delivery of both national and international... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:10pm - 1:00pm GMT
Wolfson Rm 2

Panel presentation

12:10pm GMT

Model COP: A platform for youth voice at Kew Gardens

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:10pm - 1:00pm GMT

Wolfson Rm 1

In recent years, Model COP events have found increasing popularity as forums for young people to find a voice in response to the urgent, interconnected planetary crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Since 2021, the Youth Programme at RBG, Kew has held an annual Model COP event, offering the opportunity for young people to take on the roles of party delegates and stakeholder organisations and participate in integral conversations that grapple with the complexities of system change at an inter-governmental level.
This workshop aims to highlight the successes of the Model COP project, alongside wider conversations about meaningful youth participation and why such participation is needed in future facing organisations such as ours: key stakeholders in training the next generation of environmental leaders.
The session will include a brief outline of the project and its development, followed by the opportunity for attendees to take part in their own Model COP experience. This will lead into a reflective discussion around the experience, the benefits and pitfalls when implementing strategies for youth voice, and an opportunity for participants to discuss and share relevant experiences within their own organisations.

Speakers

Claire Howard

Youth Programme Coordinator, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Claire Howard (they/them) is the Youth Programme Coordinator at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: a vibrant and oversubscribed programme that reaches over 400 young people each year. Kew’s Youth Programme prioritises long- term, meaningful engagement with the young people it serves... Read More →

Polly Gifford

Grow Wild & Youth Programme Manager, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew

Polly Gifford (she/her) is the Grow Wild & Youth Programme Manager at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, supporting the strategic development and delivery of both programmes. Grow Wild is Kew’s national outreach programme working across the UK to bring people together to learn about... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:10pm - 1:00pm GMT
Wolfson Rm 1

Workshop

1:00pm GMT

Break for lunch

Tuesday November 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm GMT

City of London rooms

Everyone's welcome to enjoy the buffet lunch, explore the exhibitor stands and try making one of the science origami models at the Origami Organelle's stand.

Tuesday November 19, 2024 1:00pm - 2:00pm GMT
City of London rooms

Break

2:00pm GMT

Keynote and panel: Understanding climate anxiety through children's eyes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Caroline Hickman

Psychotherapist, Lecturer and international authority on climate psychology, University of Bath

Caroline Hickman is a psychotherapist and lecturer at the University of Bath, researching children and young people’s emotional responses to climate change in the UK, Brazil, The Maldives, Nigeria & USA. For a decade, she has examined eco-anxiety & distress, eco-empathy, trauma... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:00pm - 2:45pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Keynote

2:55pm GMT

Early Years & Learning: Engaging low to medium science capital children through play

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:55pm - 3:45pm GMT

Wolfson Rm 2

Speakers

Tudor Gwynn

Strategic Projects Director, Eureka! The National Children’s Museum

Tudor has been at Eureka! since 2001 with responsibility for the project management of the re-development and expansion of Eureka!, both in Halifax and on Merseyside. He also has overall responsibility for the facilities management and the exhibition development element of the operation... Read More →

Patch Scales

Audience Researcher, Science and Industry Museum

Patch is an Audience Researcher with the Science Museum Group. Working as part of the Early Years and Learning Project he specialises in Early Years Audiences and Object Engagement. He carries out targeted research to understand and advocate for audiences, supporting the development... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:55pm - 3:45pm GMT
Wolfson Rm 2

Panel presentation

2:55pm GMT

How the perceptions of young people in coding and computer science changed through designing and building bio-robots

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:55pm - 3:45pm GMT

Wolfson Rm 1

Speakers

Emma Bryant

Senior Research Fellow, Department of Computer Science, UCL

Emma Bryant has over 30 years’ experience in museum education. She enjoys collaborating with colleagues from different disciplines such as scientists, artists, authors, film makers and curators. She has developed many co-curated projects with schools and museums. Coming from an... Read More →

Professor Ifat Yasin

Department of Computer Science, UCL

Ifat Yasin has a background in Audio and an interest in communicating STEM topics through co-created activities with Museums and Centres of Learning. Interests are participatory practice with different populations and age-groups for curiosity-driven activities in physics, computing... Read More →

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:55pm - 3:45pm GMT
Wolfson Rm 1

Workshop

2:55pm GMT

Responsible AI takes centre stage in a new science show

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:55pm - 3:45pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Craig Steele

Director, Digital Skills Education

Craig Steele is a computer scientist, educator, published author, and creative technologist, who helps people develop digital skills in a fun and creative environment. His company, Digital Skills Education, helps people to get the most out of technology - at home, in the workplace... Read More →

Daniel Devine

Head of Programmes, Digital Skills Education

Daniel Devine is an engineer and educator specialising in cyber security and AI technology. He has developed engaging educational experiences for thousands of learners over the past 7 years. As a proponent for experience-led learning, Daniel creates and presents online lessons that... Read More →

Kirstie Steele

Project Manager, Digital Skills Education

Kirstie is a performer, AI educator and communication professional, and Project Manager at Digital Skills Education. Kirstie cares about making AI accessible to all, teaching the fundamentals, and helping individuals to feel confident about how it can be used in an ethical way.

Tuesday November 19, 2024 2:55pm - 3:45pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Workshop