British Science Association

Thank you to everyone who has submitted ideas for inquiry or project subjects and types of activity - our open call ends tomorrow >>

www.britishscienceassociation.org/appg-on-di-i...

Gelem, Gelem — From Silence to Story. Traditional Roma women spark a cinematic first in the UK. Gelem, Gelem — From Silence to Story Traditional Roma women spark a cinematic first in the UK Traditional Roma women share stories and laughter during a weekly session in Oldham In a small room in O...

Find out more on the KaskoSan website - 'Gelem, Gelem - From Silence to Story':

kaskosan.org/2025/11/19/g...

'Gelem, Gelem' - a short film co-created with Roma women from Oldham, KaskoSan Roma Charity, the University of Salford, and supported by The Ideas Fund / British Science Association - is featured on Skwigly, the online animation magazine!

www.skwigly.co.uk/gelem-gelem-...

KaskoSan secured an independent grant from the Ideas Fund - our grants programme, funded by Wellcome - to focus on graphic storytelling to reduce language barriers and encourage self-expression. The outputs from this partnership aim to celebrate Roma heritage and women's voices in a changing world.

UK’s first Romani-language animated film set to be released A new film telling the moving real-life stories of Romani women living in Oldham has just been completed after an extensive project led by the University of Salford and the KaskoSan Roma charity.

Through The Ideas Fund, we're proud to have supported this project with KaskoSan Roma Charity and the University of Salford.

'Gelem, Gelem' is narrated in Romani by young community members, and premieres in Oldham on 18 December:

www.salford.ac.uk/news/uks-fir...

APPG on D&I in STEM: Call for ideas The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are opening a call for ideas which will determine the next piece of work for th...

Do you have ideas for future activities for our APPG to undertake, or subject areas to focus on, in relation to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion in #STEM?

Our call for ideas is open until 11 Dec.

Find out more and get in touch:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/appg-on-di-i...

British Science Festival proposals - Open Call We are currently accepting Open Call proposals for the British Science Festival 2026.

The British Science Festival needs you!

Our Open Call for #BSF26 with @unisouthampton.bsky.social is now LIVE.

You don't need to be a scientist or linked to Southampton - anyone can propose.

Find out more and send us your event ideas here:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/open-call

Working together to address the barriers for disabled scientists - Tuesday 25th November

Join us for a live webinar with @royalsociety.org to see how we can make science more accessible for everyone.

Hear from members of our Inclusion and Diversity Committee and watch a panel of invited speakers discuss improving inclusion in STEM.

Save the date and the link: rsc.li/4o5uCht

#ChemSky

New event on 4th December: Reimagining Research The Ideas Fund is a grants programme run by the British Science Association and funded by Wellcome.

🗓️In December we'll be a part of Reimagining Research, an online event hosted by @britsciassoc.bsky.social 📢

Hear from those working with communities, like the Rural Durham Community Research Network, and explore ideas of how this work can shape future research to collaboratively address challenges.

Award Lectures Details on how to become an Award Lecturer at the British Science Festival

🎤 Are you an early career researcher passionate about communicating with the wider public? Applications for the 2026 British Science Festival Award Lectures are now open!

Next year's Festival is in Southampton, 16-20 Sept.

Find out more and apply >

www.britishscienceassociation.org/award-lectures

Award Lectures Details on how to become an Award Lecturer at the British Science Festival

🎤 Are you an early career researcher passionate about communicating with the wider public? Applications for the 2026 British Science Festival Award Lectures are now open!

Next year's Festival is in Southampton, 16-20 Sept.

Find out more and apply >

www.britishscienceassociation.org/award-lectures

APPG on D&I in STEM: Call for ideas The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are opening a call for ideas which will determine the next piece of work for th...

Our call for ideas is open. Got ideas about future activities for the group to undertake in relation to equality, equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM? Visit the @britsciassoc.bsky.social site for more information and forms. Closes 11 Dec 2025:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/appg-on-di-i...

A-Level student builds highly-accurate budget Sign-Language-to-speech wrist technology A lightweight arm device designed by a 17-year-old scientist to support communication for deaf and mute people could cost just a fraction of the price of existing tech. Tom Partridge’s project has bee...

In just seven weeks, A-Level student Tom researched, designed and built a lightweight, low-cost, and accurate device to support communication. His project, inspired by his cousin, a young man with cerebral palsy, has now received a Gold CREST Award!

www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/a-level...

British Science Week homepage - British Science Week British Science Week is an annual ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. In 2026 it is taking place between 6-15 March!

The school, Hillhead Primary in Glasgow's West End, also says that #BritishScienceWeek every March is a "highlight of the school calendar". Great news! We agree. Find out more about the week and download the #BSW26 taster Activity Pack here >>

www.britishscienceweek.org

'Science helps my brain get stronger': Glasgow pupils' delight at school's award win Delighted pupils are celebrating after their school won a national prize for its approach to science, technology, engineering and maths.

"I have always thought that chemistry is a really interesting part of science. It's a bit like magic.”
- Solomon, a primary three pupil

We love this article from Glasgow Times, which asks young people about their favourite science subjects and activities:

www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/2560884...

Shot of Tom's prototype device, attached to the arm and wrist. Some wires connect sensors on forearm to a small computer inside a 3D printed case on a wrist strap and ring-like finger strap.

It's incredibly impressive work from a 17-year-old scientist.

Tom's next steps are to study engineering at university - he's got a keen interest in robotics 🤖

Find out more about his work in our case study blog on the CREST Awards website:

www.crestawards.org/about-crest/...

A-Level student builds highly-accurate budget Sign-Language-to-speech wrist technology A lightweight arm device designed by a 17-year-old scientist to support communication for deaf and mute people could cost just a fraction of the price of existing tech. Tom Partridge’s project has bee...

In just seven weeks, A-Level student Tom researched, designed and built a lightweight, low-cost, and accurate device to support communication. His project, inspired by his cousin, a young man with cerebral palsy, has now received a Gold CREST Award!

www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/a-level...

ScienceWrite is a mentoring scheme for aspiring and early-career minoritised and marginalised UK-based STEM writers, supported by @royalsociety.org and co-founded by @hanaayoob.co.uk @romatheengineer.bsky.social.

There's just a week to go until this year's deadline >>

Well deserved! Huge congratulations to one of our brilliant trustees @sciwithrach.bsky.social! >>

National Engineering Day celebrations kick off across the UK

Happy #NationalEngineeringDay! 🚀
Today, we’ve launched the AI–Z of Engineering: a digital map with over 200 current and future roles showing how engineers shape our world today and tomorrow, built with input from over 100 engineers and powered by AI: raeng.org.uk/news/nationa...

A cautious welcome for key recommendations in Curriculum and Assessment Review The British Science Association has given a cautious welcome to today’s final report on the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and the Department for Education’s (DfE) response.

The British Science Association has given a cautious welcome to the Curriculum and Assessment Review final report, and the Department for Education’s response.

Visit our news pages for more, incl. comment from our Chief Executive Hannah Russell:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/a-cauti...

Portrait of Mary Anning wearing a green cloak and straw bonnet. Extract from a newspaper about a subscription raised to help Mary Anning after a fire at her home.

30 October 1846: a newspaper reported that a fund had been set up by the geologists at that year's @britsciassoc.bsky.social meeting in Southampton to raise money for ailing fossil dealer #MaryAnning, 'an old woman' (she was 47), following a fire at her home in Lyme Regis.

Part 1 of a poem by a visitor, it reads: I am a happy bacterium But now on my skin I feel the tiny touches Of something fearful Trying to come in Oh help! I cry What will become of me? I'm defenceless, and this phage wants its tea!

Part 2 of poem by visitor, it reads: But WHY am I defenceless still? Do I exist only so phages can kill? Surely my armour can soon improve, And my sword can soon these phages remove!

Drawing by visitor of phages and a bacterium

Drawing by visitor of a phage

This #WorldPhageWeek, we are looking back to the #BritishScienceFestival and some of the brilliant phage drawings, comments, and poems created by visitors to our stand. A collab between @liverpooluni.bsky.social and @salforduni.bsky.social. Festival run by @britsciassoc.bsky.social

Operations Officer and Committee Secretary We're looking for an Operations Officer and Committee Secretary to increase our internal human resources capacity, provide support for our Operations and Core services function, including supporting t...

🔊 We're looking for an Operations Officer and Committee Secretary to increase our internal HR function, support our Operations and Core Services team, and service the committees which advise and oversee the BSA

Closing date - Wednesday 5 November

www.britishscienceassociation.org/operations-o...

On Sunday 14 September, at the British Science Festival attendees at the Museum of Liverpool were treated to a glimpse of the present and future of Chemistry with the @liverpooluni.bsky.social’s Robo-Chemist.

@britsciassoc.bsky.social

www.liverpool.ac.uk/research/new...

Reports from The British Science Festival in Liverpool England - ABC listen The BA, as it was known, established in 1831, was set up to advance science in the interest of the people, old and young, professional and lay. So, how well is it doing now amid international turmoil.

At #BSF25 in Liverpool, we were delighted to welcome ABC The Science Show presenter Robyn Williams for the FIFTIETH time.

For Part I of his show, he spoke to @flintdibble.bsky.social, Scouse Scientist Holly Ellis, @ljmuofficial.bsky.social's Keith George & others:

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

Confidence and support to teach science has fallen, primary education report suggests New research on the current state of primary school science education in the UK shows encouraging improvements, alongside a number of concerning signs for confidence in science teaching and leadership...

A new report surveying 1,200+ teachers on the current state of primary school science education in the UK shows encouraging improvements, alongside a number of concerning signs for confidence in science teaching and leadership >>

www.britishscienceassociation.org/News/confide...

Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge's presidential address President of the British Science Association for 2025/26 Julia King, Baroness Brown of Cambridge gave her presidential address at the British Science Festival in a fireside chat with Turi King. They d...

“I learned to take the sewing machine apart, so I suppose it started there...”

At the British Science Festival in Liverpool, our 2025-26 BSA President, Baroness Brown, spoke on the origins of her love for science, her career, and the future:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/blog/julia-k...

Image of a scientist in white lab coat, with a pipette and testtube. They are wearing a white lab coat and are a wheelchair user. Other scientists work in the background. A quote overlayed says "it's through change that science progresses, and good science is diverse and inclusive, including for disabled people. We are here, within science as scientists." - Dr Frankie Doddato

What can employers do to create a more inclusive environment?

In a new guest blog, Dr Frankie Doddato, physicist at Lancaster University, writes on the vital role of the National Association of Disabled Staff Networks, and its STEMM Action Group:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/Blog/disable...

Reflections on the British Science Festival in Liverpool The BSA's Head of Policy and Public affairs Martha Kirby reflects on the British Science Festival 2025, and on the importance of hands-on science education - for all ages - that engages and inspires.

In a new blog, the BSA's Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Martha Kirby, reflects on the British Science Festival #BSF25 in Liverpool, and on the importance of hands-on science education - for all ages - that engages and inspires:

www.britishscienceassociation.org/Blog/reflect...