ASDC Conference: Shaping the future of science together

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ASDC Conference: Shaping the future of science together

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.

1:00pm GMT

Welcome

Monday November 18, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Stephen Breslin

Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Science Centre

Stephen has been the Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Science Centre since 2012 and is committed to building confidence and raising aspiration in young people and helping them to discover the pleasure and relevance of science, engineering and technology. Stephen trained and worked... Read More →

Lesley Miles

Chief - Programmes, Partnerships and Engagement, The Royal Society

Lesley Miles is the Chief Officer – Programmes, Partnerships and Engagement – at the Royal Society, having joined in 2013 as the Chief Strategy Officer. As part of her role, she is responsible for some of the Society’s major strands of work including grants, public, schools... 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 →

Monday November 18, 2024 1:00pm - 1:45pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Keynote

1:45pm GMT

Keynote: Transforming tomorrow together

Monday November 18, 2024 1:45pm - 2:15pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser

Chief Executive, UKRI

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser is the Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge.UKRI brings together the UK’s Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England, operating with a combined budget of... Read More →

Monday November 18, 2024 1:45pm - 2:15pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Keynote

2:30pm GMT

Engagement showcase: Intriguing, involving and inspiring people with UK Space

Monday November 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Join us for the space engagement showcase, bringing together partners from the UK Space Agency funded Space to Learn programme to share inspiring space engagement materials with delegates in a fun engaging speed dating format.

The Space to Learn programme launched in 2023 channelling funding from UK Space Agency into four major educational projects. These include the National Space Academy’s series of 1,000 specialised masterclasses, engaging more than 40,000 students with science career opportunities; the Jon Egging Trust’s Blue Skies initiative delivering 28,000 hours of space-related education resources to students, and the Association for Science and Discovery Centre’s Our World From Space programme, which is being delivered across 25 science centres and museums to help schoolchildren and families discover the relevance of UK space science for the future health and sustainability of our home planet.

Come and learn about new ways to engage your audiences on the topic of UK Space science, Space careers and Space for the sustainable future of planet Earth.

Contributors include:

ASDC
Dynamic Earth
National Space Academy
STEM Learning
John Egging Trust
Scouts
UK Space Agency
OnData Research

Speakers

Laura Thomas

Director, Ondata Research

Laura Thomas is Director of Ondata Research, an evaluation and impact consultancy working across formal and informal education. Laura began her career as a practitioner in physics outreach and public engagement, with a particular interest in university partnerships and involving people... Read More →

Conor Ellis

Science Learning and Engagement Director, Dynamic Earth

Conor is the Science Learning and Engagement Director at Dynamic Earth, the UK’s science centre dedicated to the story of our planet.  A Geographer by background and with an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement, Conor’s previous roles have included managing... Read More →

Monday November 18, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Workshop

4:00pm GMT

Lightning talks

Monday November 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:10pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Our series of six vibrant lightning talks:

Hassun El Zafar, Director, Edinburgh Science: What does decolonisation look like in science engagement?
Jack Monaghan, Science Engagement Manager, Wellcome Connecting Science: DNA Youth Ambassadors: using youth voices to share the future of genomic science
Mollie Clay, Learning Development Officer, Field Studies Council: Overcoming barriers to online environmental learning for young and neurodiverse audiences
Laura Joy Pieters, Curator of Mathematical Sciences, Science Museum: A quick deep dive into the material culture of AI
Vanessa Sauls, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, The Francis Crick Institute: Reverse Mentoring: Bridging Generational Gaps for Inclusion in STEM
Sophie Ward, Communications and Office Assistant, ASDC: Why your personality is the ultimate communication tool

Speakers

Hassun El-Zafar

Director & CEO, Edinburgh Science

Emerging into the international art, heritage, and science engagement scene in the late 2010s, Hassun El-Zafar has become a dynamic force in multi-disciplinary art and public engagement. His work spans curating festivals, directing theatre, producing world-leading factual content... Read More →

Vanessa Sauls

EDI Manager, The Francis Crick Institute

Vanessa Sauls is an interdisciplinary inclusion practitioner and published legal scholar with an interest in jurisprudence, philosophy, sociology, and behavioural science. Working in the private, public and charity sectors, she developed a passion for cultural development and... Read More →

Laura Joy Pieters

Curator of Mathematical Sciences, Science Museum

Laura Joy Pieters is a curator at the Science Museum, London, where she is passionate about engaging diverse audiences through outputs spanning major galleries and book contributions. She is responsible for the museum’s historic collection of objects relating to astronomy, mathematics... Read More →

Mollie Clay

Learning Development Officer, Field Studies Council

Mollie Clay is a Learning Development Officer with Field Studies Council. Her primary experience surrounds widening participation in the environmental sector for young people, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds.

Jack Monaghan

Science Engagement Manager (Publics and Communities), Wellcome Connecting Science

Jack leads genomics-focused community engagement projects in the Wellcome Connecting Science team. Based in South Cambridgeshire on the Wellcome Genome Campus, Jack has focussed on building relationships with groups in East Anglia with low science engagement opportunity. He is... Read More →

Sophie Ward

Communications and Office Assistant, The Association for Science and Discovery Centres

Sophie joined the ASDC in May this year as a Communications and Admin assistant, and is also a freelance science presenter and communicator. Her work has included presenting Seven Deadly Psychologies and A Recipe for Love for BBC Radio 4, fronting videos for the BBC Earth Kids YouTube... Read More →

Monday November 18, 2024 4:00pm - 5:10pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Lightning talks

5:10pm GMT

Close

Monday November 18, 2024 5:10pm - 5:15pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Monday November 18, 2024 5:10pm - 5:15pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Close

7:00pm GMT

Evening drinks reception

Monday November 18, 2024 7:00pm - 7:30pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Monday November 18, 2024 7:00pm - 7:30pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Dinner

7:40pm GMT

Keynote: STEM for All: Science in Society

Monday November 18, 2024 7:40pm - 8:00pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Speakers

Chi Onwurah

Chair for the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology

Chi Onwurah is a Member of Parliament representing Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, and the former Shadow Minister Science, Research & Innovation. Born in Wallsend, Chi attended Kenton Comprehensive School in Newcastle, where she was elected the school’s ‘MP’ in mock... Read More →

Monday November 18, 2024 7:40pm - 8:00pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Keynote

8:00pm GMT

Dinner

Monday November 18, 2024 8:00pm - 8:45pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Monday November 18, 2024 8:00pm - 8:45pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Dinner

8:45pm GMT

Marsh Trust with ASDC for Volunteer and Youth Voice Awards

Monday November 18, 2024 8:45pm - 9:00pm GMT

Wellcome Trust Hall

Monday November 18, 2024 8:45pm - 9:00pm GMT
Wellcome Trust Hall

Dinner

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