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Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean visits Science Oxford Centre
Friday 21st March 2025
Professor Dame Angela McLean, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, and Rachael Tapping, Head of Communications, Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), visited Science Oxford Centre.
‘If you build it, they will come’
Tuesday 18th February 2025
We do what we can to help our local avian population. In addition to our bird ‘café’, we provide homes and have over fifty bird boxes in our current offering, available to residents on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wild tracking
Monday 10th February 2025
Recently, ahead of the upcoming Wild Trackers Nature Club, I’ve been delving into animal tracking and the clues and signs animals leave behind that tell us about their daily lives – what lives where, what they eat and how they move.
Exclusive for 2025: Free Thinking, Doing, Talking Science CPD course
Wednesday 8th January 2025
Thanks to the generous support of The Oxford Trust, the upcoming 2025 Thinking, Doing, Talking Science (TDTScience) continued professional development course for primary teachers is free to all participants.
Badgers set to benefit from new government strategy
Tuesday 15th October 2024
We’re big fans of badgers here at Science Oxford; they can be slightly unruly tenants from time to time, prone to leaving trails of destruction and digging latrine pits wherever they chose, but I love them. That’s why we were interested to read the announcement by the government at the end of August about their new strategy that will help better understand a deadly disease, improve the health of badger populations, and bring an end to the controversial badger cull.
Taiwanese delegation visits the Science Oxford Centre
Thursday 26th September 2024
On Wednesday 25th September, The Oxford Trust welcomed representatives from the Taipei City Government Department of Education in Taiwan to the Science Oxford Centre as part of their trip around the UK to gain insight from organisations in the field of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education and draw inspiration to enhance the development of STEAM education within Taiwan’s basic education system.
The Oxford Trust appoints new Director of Science Education & Engagement
Wednesday 14th August 2024
The Oxford Trust has appointed Francesca MacLennan as the new director of science education & engagement to lead Science Oxford, the Trust’s public-facing brand which delivers the charity’s STEM education and engagement programmes.
Expectation versus reality in the woodland
Tuesday 13th August 2024
Every adventure has some risks. And even though the outdoor activities at the Science Oxford Centre are a wonderful way to explore nature, part of my job is to assess and describe their risks so that all our visitors can be prepared.
Nurturing the next generation of creative techies with Arti-Techs Club
Tuesday 23rd July 2024
Science Oxford’s Arti-techs Club, run by Technology Projects Officer Sarah Townson, is a place where young people aged 11 to 14 years old can come to explore their creativity through technology. It’s also a space where they can connect and make friends.
Congratulations to the winners of the Big Science Event finals 2024!
Wednesday 10th July 2024
One of Science Oxford’s highlights of the year, the Big Science Event, reached peak excitement on 8th and 9th July when primary schools from across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire gathered for the grand finals at the Science Oxford Centre.
Agreement with The Oxford Trust makes Primary Science Teaching Trust lead partner for delivery of Thinking Doing Talking Science courses
Monday 3rd June 2024
Under an exclusive license from The Oxford Trust, the Primary Science Teaching Trust (PSTT) is, from 1st June 2024, the lead national partner for the ongoing delivery of Thinking, Doing, Talking Science (TDTScience) courses across the UK.
The Oxford Trust launches Accessing Science Fund to support young people into STEM
Tuesday 21st May 2024
The Oxford Trust has launched the Accessing Science Fund to improve science learning for children and young people who are less likely to have access to STEM activities and resources in schools and community groups across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
The super buzz of World Bee Day
Monday 20th May 2024
We love the buzz of energy every Saturday in the Science Oxford Centre, as families share in the excitement of discovering and exploring science.
Finding the right fit: Springtime planting to improve our biodiversity
Thursday 28th March 2024
This year will mark my eighth year with The Oxford Trust, and even before we moved to our centre here at the Stansfeld Park site five years ago, I was a regular visitor to the woodland. In those eight years I have never known it to be so damp. Our site isn’t alone.
Thinking, Doing, Talking Science informs guidance to improve primary science teaching
Monday 4th December 2023
The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published a new guidance report “Improving Primary Science”, with six key recommendations to improve high-quality primary science teaching.
Bats bed down for winter in the woodland
Monday 27th November 2023
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 just a cue to put on another jumper, but I eventually concede to alternative forms of warmth, even if it’s just to dry the washing!
Celebrating the UK’s largest annual tree celebration – National Tree Week
Friday 24th November 2023
National Tree Week runs every year at the end of November, 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.
Celebrating students in STEM at Young Scientists of the Year 2023 awards
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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.
Inspiring young people about STEM
Wednesday 25th October 2023
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
Friday 22nd September 2023
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 to do next? Are you curious and excited by the idea of solving real-world challenges, but haven’t considered a STEM career? Or, have you decided […]
Free places on our Thinking, Doing, Talking Science course
Wednesday 13th September 2023
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
Tuesday 5th September 2023
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
Thursday 10th August 2023
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
Wednesday 12th July 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 Oxford Centre.
Primary Science Conference spreads ideas for high-impact science teaching
Friday 23rd June 2023
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 day at our centre this week to amazing teachers such as these, when we hosted the Primary Science Conference organised by the Oxfordshire and Reading […]
The super buzz of World Bee Day
Thursday 25th May 2023
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
Wednesday 3rd May 2023
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 to life. The pond and woodland around the Centre are home to a number of nocturnal creatures, who start their ‘day’ after we’ve all gone […]
Inspiring big, crazy dreams
Wednesday 5th April 2023
“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 BBC’s The Sky at Night. Her passion as she encourages young people to pursue their “big, crazy dreams” and to answer big questions is infectious.
Sarah Townson receives prestigious High Sheriff of Oxfordshire’s Award 2023
Tuesday 28th March 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 Oxfordshire.
Science Oxford fires up enthusiasm for science during British Science Week
Thursday 23rd March 2023
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 of her, quickly disappearing. The pupils cheered when Alice suggested she do it again. This was one of many, literally, blazing moments in Science Oxford’s […]
Spring’s reward
Monday 20th March 2023
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.
Building science capital as an approach to STEM engagement
Friday 10th February 2023
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.
Joining in the UK’s largest annual tree celebration – National Tree Week 2022
Tuesday 29th November 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.
Celebrating Science Oxford’s Young Scientists of the Year 2022
Tuesday 22nd November 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?
Tuesday 15th November 2022
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
Monday 7th November 2022
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
Saturday 22nd October 2022
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
Tuesday 27th September 2022
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.
Applications now open for our STEM Insight Week
Tuesday 20th September 2022
Applications are now open for our next STEM Insight Week, which takes place at half-term from 24–28 October. We have an exciting week planned to help Year 10 students gain insight into STEM working life, and to inspire their path into STEM careers.
It’s nearly IF festival time!
Monday 12th September 2022
Get your shoes on (or slippers, if you’d prefer online events) and head to IF Oxford, the Oxford science and ideas festival, over the month of October. Ideas will be plentiful, conversations thought-provoking, and activities fun, creative and stimulating.