Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC)

Parliamentlive.tv Westminster Hall

"SDCs are not optional extras, but vital national assets"

An incredible speech delivered by @stevewitherdenmp.bsky.social at the Westminster Hall debate yesterday. We were glued to Parliament TV 👀
Watch again here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Parliamentlive.tv - Commons

So, put the time in your calendar -

📆 14th January, 2.30pm-4pm,

and don't forget to tune in here: www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons

During the debate, we eagerly anticipate hearing from MPs from across the political spectrum and all four corners of the UK, strongly expressing their support for their local science and discovery centres and the contribution our sector makes to national science and STEM engagement and skills.

These recommendations have widespread support among stakeholders and the public.

More than 3,100 leading scientists, academics, business leaders, and educators signed an Open Letter backing the recommendations, which was formally delivered to Ministers in November 2025.

Science Centres For Our Future Science Centres For Our Future

3️⃣Establish a long-term capital renewal fund to secure the sector’s future at the cutting edge of STEM engagement

You can find out more about the Science Centres For Our Future campaign here future.sciencecentres.org.uk

1️⃣Recognise science and discovery centres as part of the UK's scientific and cultural ecosystem

2️⃣Address science centres’ urgent capital needs, providing funding that can be matched by centres to address immediate infrastructure risks

And finally...

The debate was secured, and will be led, by @stevewitherdenmp.bsky.social, MP for the Centre for Alternative Technology.

Focusing on the policy asks of the Science Centres For Our Future campaign, we are urging ministers to take substantive action to:

Parliamentlive.tv - Commons

Tomorrow (14th January), 2.30pm-4pm, a Westminster Hall debate on the impact of Science and Discovery Centres on national science and technology priorities is set to take place.

Tune in to the live stream on the Parliament Live website: www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons

Find out more in the thread ⬇️

As an announcement, the post does not have a CTA per se - it's a launch of the project which will be ongoing (across the fifteen centres) over the next few months - us sharing that this project is happening. We've reposted with a bit more clarity on said project though, so appreciate your feedback.

ASDC launches national science engagement programme ‘Demystifying AI’ ASDC launches national science engagement programme ‘Demystifying AI’

Demystifying AI is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with project development from Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC, part of UKRI).

Find out more, and if there's a participating centre near you, in our news article below ⬇️

www.sciencecentres.org.uk/news/asdc-la...

Events will include interactive exhibits, science busking, discussion panels, planetarium shows, and careers and schools talks.

In some centres, the public will have direct access to scientists and engineers using AI in a wide range of fields, from medical to environmental.

The fifteen participating organisations will run events that aim to turn some of the complex ideas and technologies behind AI into meaningful, interactive experiences. In total, Demystifying AI events will reach a total of 70,000 people across the UK over three months.

Map of the United Kingdom and Ireland showing 15 science centres and museums running the ‘Demystifying AI’ programme. Locations are marked across Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, including Aberdeen Science Centre (Aberdeen), Dundee Science Centre (Dundee), Dynamic Earth and Edinburgh Science (Edinburgh), International Centre for Life (Newcastle), National Space Centre (Leicester), STEM Discovery Centre (Stevenage), Exeter Science Centre (Exeter), We The Curious (Bristol), Techniquest (Cardiff), Oriel Science (Swansea), Thinktank (Birmingham), Xplore! (Wrexham), W5 (Belfast), and Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (Armagh). The Association for Science and Discovery Centres logo appears in the top right.

We're pleased to announce the launch of a new national science engagement programme 'Demystifying AI'!

Fifteen organisations have received funding to support young people, families, schools and communities to understand AI in everyday life and careers and skills development in AI.

Read more 🔽

Hi @tinymattresses.bsky.social - thanks for asking for clarity. Fifteen organisations (listed in full on the linked news page) have received funding to run AI engagement activities/events for their audiences. This post is an announcement of the overall project.

Colour-in mood characters An engaging and fun way to consider and express emotions and involvement in sessions. This chart explores whether participants felt inspired, excited, or bored, left out and out-of-depth.With particip...

Huge thanks to @sciencecentres.bsky.social for making this child-friendly feedback collection resource public. If you want to try it out yourself, you can download it here: inclusion.sciencecentres.org.uk/evaluating-i...

Navigating eco-anxiety together Navigating eco-anxiety together

Final call for the 'Navigating eco-anxiety together' session tomorrow, Wed 10th Dec (10-12pm), with speakers Dr Caroline Hickman and Dr Helen Featherstone. This free online event is open to all ASDC members. Register now 👇 www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/navig...

December Members’ Forum: The Festive Forum By Association for Science and Discovery Centres

❄️ Come along to the ASDC Festive Forum! ❄️

We'll be celebrating the season with -

🚀 An announcement of mini space engagement grants
🎙️ The premiere of ASDC's audio time capsule (as recorded at this year's conference)
✨ Highlights from the year
❓ A festive fun quiz

Register here: tktp.as/EHKJIQ

Thank you for sharing the 'Science Centres For Our Future' campaign. The open letter, signed by over 3,100 leading scientists and stakeholders was sent to
@primeministeruk.bsky.social today. The work continues for fairer funding for the UK's science and discovery centres.

Science Centres For Our Future Science Centres For Our Future

Find out more about the campaign future.sciencecentres.org.uk

They will need to operate more commercially and withdraw free and subsidised access, undermining their core purpose and charitable mission of increasing access to STEM opportunities for everyone.

#ScienceCentresForOurFuture

Thank you to everyone who took the time to sign the letter, your support is key to delivering the message that without Government support, science centres will be forced to significantly scale back their operations, including their community outreach activities.

The letter was signed by over 3,100 leading scientists, academics, business leaders and members of the public including teachers, doctors and nurses, parents and grandparents.

Open letter pg1

Open letter pg 2

Today, 25th Nov, we delivered an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, and Science Minister Lord Vallance calling on the Government to recognise science and discovery centres as a core part of the UK’s scientific, educational and cultural infrastructure.

The letter has now been sent to @primeministeruk.bsky.social

Thank you so much for all your support and help with sharing our campaign @astroroyalscot.bsky.social much appreciated!

Your support is vital to this campaign calling on DSIT Ministers to take the lead in working with colleagues across government to protect the future and realise the full potential of science and discovery centres for the UK.

Association for science and discovery centres open letter 2025 This open letter is part of the campaign 'Science Centres for our Future: Supporting engagement, education and diversity in STEM for the next 25 years' calling on the Department for Science, Innovatio...

📢 Final call to sign the #ScienceCentresForOurFuture open letter. It takes just 2 mins, pls add your name now: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...

LinkedIn Clinic: How to build a professional and organisational presence by Petra Gudelj and Sophia Constantinou.

3 December 2025, 1 - 3pm GMT via Zoom

More info and book at www.big.uk.com/event-6410654

graphic saying 'We are supporting National Engineering Day 5 November 2025'

We’re celebrating #NationalEngineeringDay ⚡

@raeng.org.uk just launched the AI-Z of Engineering – a modern, future focused guide to engineering careers. Explore the breadth and creativity of engineering roles and see how they could evolve over the next 25 years via thisisengineering.org.uk