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.

arrow_back View All Dates

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

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

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

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

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

4:00pm GMT

Discussion tables

Tuesday November 19, 2024 4:00pm - 5:10pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Round table discussions: sharing ideas, learning and practice

Tuesday November 19, 2024 4:00pm - 5:10pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Discussion tables

5:10pm GMT

Closing plenary

Tuesday November 19, 2024 5:10pm - 5:15pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Tuesday November 19, 2024 5:10pm - 5:15pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall