The Science Museum outreach team worked with other UK museums and science centres to deliver a series of shows and workshops to Year 9 students.
AIM
The Climate Science Outreach Project aimed to enable and equip Year 9 students to engage and inspire their peers on the subject of climate change.
CONTEXT
In December 2010 the Science Museum opened a new gallery called Atmosphere: Exploring climate science.
As part of this programme, our outreach team worked in partnership with other museums and science centres across the UK between 2010 and 2013 to deliver a series of exciting shows and workshops to Year 9 students.
OUTCOMES
Over the three years of the project, we reached over 3000 students and their teachers in secondary schools in London, York, Manchester and the southwest and northwest of England, engaging with each participating school throughout the academic year.
The project brought many additional benefits including improved teamworking and literacy skills, increased interest in science and strengthened relationships across school departments.
We provided resources and support to help teachers and students complete the project. We also offered events in the schools’ local museums and science centres. These included workshops to kickstart the project, a special Punk Science show and a celebration event to showcase students’ work.
OUTPUTS
YEAR ONE
In year one (2010-11), we challenged students to create their own pieces of ‘sci-art’ to communicate climate change themes. The artworks were incredible and formed a special exhibition that toured our partner museums and was compiled by us into a photo book.
Download the Climate Art photo book
YEAR TWO
In year 2 (2011-12), students took our science journalism challenge and produced stories for a special edition of ATMOS magazine. They researched climate change in their local communities, conducted interviews then wrote up their own articles to an exceptionally high standard.
YEAR THREE
In the final year of the project (2012-13) we tasked students to focus on live events and face-to-face science communication.They were asked to devise, plan and deliver fun, engaging activities on the subject of climate change.
The result was a range of original events—drama performances, flash mobs, science demonstrations, recycling workshops, fashion shows and even a novel sporting event with a climate science twist—which took place in their schools and communities and reached over 8,900 people.
Each event was recorded in photos to create a large photo wall which was displayed in all the partner museums and science centres to celebrate the project’s culmination.
Download the photo wall display
PROJECT PARTNERS
The Science Museum teamed up other museums and science centres to deliver this project:
- National Railway Museum
- Science and Industry Museum
- At-Bristol
- Catalyst Science Discovery Centre
PRINCIPAL SPONSORS
Shell, Siemens
MAJOR SPONSOR
Bank of America Merrill Lynch
MAJOR FUNDER
The Garfield Weston Foundation
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Patrons of the Science Museum
- Members of the Founders Circle: Climate Changing programme
WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR LONDON SCHOOLS FROM
The City Bridge Trust