Joanne Riley, Author at Science Oxford

Bats bed down for winter in the woodland

In our household, we’re at that time of year when there is a constant battle over the thermostat. I’m very much of the mindset that when the temperature drops, it’s…

group of people seated in tiered auditorium, cheering. View from front facing audience

Celebrating students in STEM at Young Scientists of the Year 2023 awards

Each year, we bring together outstanding Year 13 students, their parents and teachers at a prestigious evening event to recognise and celebrate achievements of the students nominated for our Young Scientists of the Year awards.

Head and upper body shot of Graham Quelch, wearing hat, glasses and black t-shirt posed in front of greenery

Inspiring young people about STEM

Science Oxford aims to inspire young people about STEM, but it isn’t only children who are inspired through Science Oxford’s work.

Graham Quelch, aka ‘Mr Q The Science Guy’, unlocked his passion for engaging young people about STEM over 25 years ago.

Oxford STEM Fest to shine light on STEM Careers this October

Young people, Year 9s and above, this one is for you! Are you unsure what GCSE options to choose? Or, have you already chosen your subjects but don’t know what…

Free places on our Thinking, Doing, Talking Science course

We have free and discounted places available on our Thinking, Doing, Talking Science (TDTS) continued professional development course for teachers at the Science Oxford Centre, starting on 6 November.

IF Oxford 2023 celebrating science and ideas

It’s nearly festival time! Festivals are great celebrations, and IF Oxford, the Oxford science and ideas Festival, is a true celebration of science and ideas!

Time waits for no one, not even nature

Timescales are a funny thing when you work in nature. Some lives are begun, lived and end in almost the blink of an eye, while those of other living things can span centuries. Since I first visited the site of the Science Oxford Centre over seven years ago, some things have changed dramatically, but blissfully much has stayed the same.

Inquisitive young minds impress judges at the Big Science Event 2023

Science Oxford’s Big Science Event wrapped up the annual search for Oxfordshire’s and Buckinghamshire’s most engaging and experimental young scientists with the finals on 10th and 11th July.at the Science…

A group of people seated in a auditorium, waving

Primary Science Conference spreads ideas for high-impact science teaching

Thanks to dedicated teachers, hundreds of enthusiastic primary school children bubbling with energy visit the Science Oxford Centre each week to explore science. So, we were pleased to dedicate a…

The super buzz of World Bee Day

We love the buzz of energy every Saturday in the Science Oxford Centre, as families share in the excitement of discovering and exploring science. Last Saturday had an extra buzz about it with the celebration of World Bee Day at our monthly Nature Club.

Good news about our great (crested) newts

We love the energy of the awe-inspiring daytime activities at the Science Oxford Centre, but when the lights go down, between dusk and dawn, another world, just as wonderful, comes…

Inspiring big, crazy dreams

“Keep asking questions! Keep reaching for the stars!” These are inspiring words from Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (MBE) – space scientist, celebrated STEM educator and communicator, and presenter of the long-standing…

Sarah Townson receives prestigious High Sheriff of Oxfordshire’s Award 2023

Technology Projects Officer, Sarah Townson, has received a prestigious High Sheriff of Oxfordshire’s Award 2023, presented at a ceremony on Monday 27 March by Mark Beard, the High Sheriff of…

Science Oxford fires up enthusiasm for science during British Science Week

The Great Kimble Primary School hall echoed with gasps of awe and delight. Alice had just set a puff of cornflour alight and a cloud of fire flashed in front…

Spring’s reward

The winter is a relatively calm period of the year when, apart from cleaning muddy boots and trying to keep warm, there isn’t too much that needs doing urgently. That’s not to say that I’m not busy, but the outdoor environment doesn’t change on a daily basis! This past year has been particularly unusual with the dry and warm conditions we’ve experienced and it will be interesting to see what the rest of the year has in store for us.

Female member of staff interacting with two young boys over science exhibit

Building science capital as an approach to STEM engagement

Science Oxford Centre Operations Manager Dr Emily Fisk advocates that science communication and engagement should be approached through the lens of developing ‘science capital’, requiring dynamic and flexible engagement that considers people’s existing relationships with science, and which can help to address inequity in STEM.

Group of volunteers with wheelbarrows and tools to work outdoors in woodland

Joining in the UK’s largest annual tree celebration – National Tree Week 2022

National Tree Week runs from 26 November to 4 December, marking the start of the best period of the year to plant trees. Ignore those photographs of dignitaries planting trees in the middle of a hot summer to mark the opening of a new housing development.

Group of pupils with certificates for Young Scientists of the Year against background of exhibits at Oxford University Museum of Natural History

Celebrating Science Oxford’s Young Scientists of the Year 2022

Committed, determined, hard-working, resilient, talented, enthusiastic, passionate, curious, supportive, encouraging. These are just some of the words teachers used to describe Year 13 students nominated for the 2022 Young Scientists of the Year awards. With attributes like these in our young people, the future of STEM looks bright!

What do people who work in STEM actually do?

Thanks to Science Oxford, a group of year 10s from local Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire secondary schools who participated in the October half-term STEM Insight Week discovered what working in STEM really entails.

The ‘favourite’ autumn season and climate

With thoughts turning to the climate, we caught up with our Outdoor Learning and Ecology Manager, Roger Baker, for his insight and experience in the woodland at the Science Oxford Centre this autumn.

Celebrating our valuable volunteers

In an activity-packed, often frantic world of busy-ness, limited time is a precious commodity. So, charities and organisations like The Oxford Trust, and its Science Oxford team, are immensely grateful to all the volunteers who choose to spend their valuable time to support and work with us.

Working together to impact our communities

It takes a team to achieve real and lasting impact. In her wisdom, Mother Teresa couldn’t have put it more simply when she said, “I can do things you cannot; you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” Her sentiments highlight the real value in our relationships and connections with partners within the communities we serve. Drawing on each other’s strengths, we can achieve more.