BIS is pleased to support the following projects which take science into a community setting. We hope that the audiences reached will become more engaged and better informed about the science issues affecting them and be inspired to further their involvement. We also hope lessons can be learnt and shared so that other community groups will be encouraged to run their own events. Watch this space to see how these projects evolve...
| Title of project | Outline of the project |
| Science on your Doorstep | Interactive and informal science activities delivered in community venues within three target neighbourhoods. The project will culminate in a larger celebration event bringing together all the participating families from the different communities. |
| Friday Salons at the Black Box | ‘Friday Salon', a scientific ideas event held once a month, with a series of talks on scientific subjects. Events would be looking to mix science, entertainment and comedy so as to be accessible and reach cores audiences. |
| CommuniSCI | The project will run on a weekly basis and will also run monthly “tech talks” and science events throughout the city. A fortnightly educational newspaper supplement will be produced by, and distributed among, local communities. This intergenerational scheme will engage many in a diverse range of STEM learning and hands-on science. |
| The Human Evolution Roadshow | The Human Evolution Roadshow maps out where you have come from. Delivered by archaeologists, this ‘roadshow’ style event will visit ten public events and share with audiences how we can trace human evolution. |
| Guiding Science | This project will develop a series of sustainable resources and activity days that will promote visit and provide added value to those visits. In addition, computer programming workshops will be developed. The annual Teen Takeover day will be given the brief of developing a day for Girl Guides as a primary audience. All of these activities will be developed with the focus achieving the badges and accreditation already existing within Girl Guiding UK. |
| Reconnect | An interactive exhibition will tour 3 community spaces and invite local residents to immerse themselves in workshops and discussions about how the body works. Each part of the body will be represented through a different art form and artist, depicting biological processes, changes due to age and disease and how science supports regeneration and renewal of the body. |
| Voyages in the Sun | Celebrating Work Space Week in October 2014, Voyages in the Sun will arouse curiosity of non-scientists about our Solar System. The project explores time, distance and space exploration. All events take place at the 5th Settle Storytelling Festival in the rural Yorkshire Dales and will be supported by online resources. |
| Science Adventures | Outdoor science activities in an all-weather, pop-up laboratory in the local adventure playground. The project will also leave a legacy by training playground staff to put on science activities and set up self-led science opportunities for children in their familiar playground setting. |
| The Big Brain Show gets Bigger | The play focuses on the history of understanding brain development, the function of the brain, how people use (and abuse) their brain and how a better understanding of brain function can help people improve their daily life. The show will be performed by people with learning difficulties for people with learning difficulties. Performances will have follow-up workshops hosted by community partners. Performances are to be accompanied by a DVD, EasyRead booklet and on-line materials. |
| Imagineer 2015 | The week-long science and engineering celebration will encompass a range of format including talks, workshops, performances, tours, hands on activities and science shows, and will take place in publicly accessible venues. |
| Nuclear Mythbusting | This project aims to raise awareness of radiation in everyday life. With hands-on experiments as well as informative talks. All activities will be delivered by current nuclear researchers but events will take place away from the University site to engage with new audiences in a range of non-traditional venues. |
| CSI, CS-WHY, CS-How | This projects aims to provide insight into methods and scientific underpinning of forensic science applications. The 6 week learning experience around a forensic case aims to engage and educate adults as to the features and robustness of the scientific methodology behind the use of science in the detection of crime. |
| When fiction science and art collide | A series of engaging events and activities, which local residents will help to deliver, will highlight the relevance of science and microbiology in people’s everyday lives. |
| Mammoth Steppes | September 2014 marks the 150th anniversary of excavation of the Ilford Mammoth and a programme of workshops, seminars and a ‘Mammoth Festival’ which builds knowledge and understanding of the natural science of the Steppe mammoth (found during the time when Redbridge was a Savannah) is planned. Activities will also introduce geology, archaeology, palaeontology and other natural, earth and life sciences. Associations with other local history clubs and associations will provide pathways to further learning. |
| Team Tim | A space-themed interactive show will visit several Brownie units and will topically centre around British astronaut Tim Peake’s future 2015 mission to the International Space Station. A legacy is to be left with the downloadable activity resources linked to Brownie badges. |
| AstroCymru+ | Hi-tech STEM education programmes involving lectures and workshops based around astronomy and space science is to be delivered. In addition, there will be opportunities for participants to contribute observations to support space missions. |
| To Infinity and Beyond (space) | Community libraries will deliver a 1 day presenter-led and immersive planetarium experience, backed up with books from the library and active promotion of websites such as NASA, Royal Astronomical Society etc. |
| Activate Science: Brilliant Brains | After a pilot engagement phase, the project will involve a community-based learning, development, training and support service for several local providers to run their own engagement events around neuroscience. |
| Pop up Science Shop | A portable ‘gazebo’ style science shop that could be transported to community events/venues. The shop would be run by a team of training students and parent volunteers who demonstrate simple interactive science activities. Instructions and basic resource kit that parents could follow-up at home will be also be provided. |
| Time and Tide | A performance piece about the Christchurch harbour double high tide and the role that it plays in the area will explore the science on their waterfront through research, experiments and model making. |
| Community Science Education and Carnival Project | This programme of design and engineering training will develop thinking processes associated with scientific principles underlying the design and creation of kinetic carnival. |
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