APPENDIX
THE BRITISH SCIENCE ASSOCIATION'S PROGRAMMES
We achieve our impact through four national
programmes, in concert with the Regional and Branch network, and
in partnership with a wide range of organisations.
— The Festival of Science takes place
in a different university city each year. It brings together the
best in science (including social science), engineering and technology
to celebrate scientific advances, explore the latest developments
and encourage open discussion about science-related issues that
interest large numbers of people, directly and through huge media
attention. The impacts of this, Europe's largest science festival,
include massive national (and locally regional) press coverage,
event attendances of 50,000-130,000 depending on the venue,
and legacy relationships or activity in the host area (for example
many recent science festivals such as York, Cheltenham and Leicester
are legacies of the Festival of Science or National Science Week).
— National Science and Engineering Week
(NSEW) is a coordinated nationwide grassroots celebration and
discussion of all aspects of science, engineering and technology
through local, regional and national events. It is funded by
the DIUS, orchestrated by the British Science Association and
addresses varied public audiences, with a particular emphasis
on young people and families. The impacts of NSEW, based in 2008 on
some 3,500 events nationally and 1.4 million directly
involved participants, in addition to huge local and regional
media coverage, include the continued involvement of hundreds
of event organisers in reaching their publics and the bringing
in each year of new presenters and new audiences, building national
capacity in public engagement and widening access.
— The CREST Award scheme is the only
national accreditation scheme for project work in science, engineering
and technology in the UK. The programme addresses young people
between 11 and 19 and their teachers, and involves scientists
and engineers as mentors. In 2007 CREST * Investigators
was launched, extending the scheme from age five in primary schools.
CREST is a major element in the "STEM enrichment" landscape,
and the expertise we have developed through CREST and NSEW have
led to our co-ordination of the Science and Engineering Clubs
initiative, our involvement in the Directors for STEM enrichment
schemes and in delivery of the National Science Competition. CREST
is also a centrepiece of the UK Young Scientists' and Engineers'
Fair, directly initiated by the British Science Association.
— The Science in Society programme
both supports the science communication community and encourages
members of the public to "have their say" in science-related
matters that concern them. The programme operates through the
annual Science Communication Conference and specific initiatives
including Media Fellowships, Perspectives and the community x-change.
The science communication conference is viewed as the major networking
and updating event of the year.
— The UK network of Regions and Branches
organises programmes for local audiences organised by volunteers.
The Regional staff team supports the volunteers in Branches and
promotes activity during National Science and Engineering Week,
and is active in the networking of science communication activity
in their region.
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