Big Science Event 2026
in collaboration with the Great Science Share for Schools
Science Oxford’s Big Science Event has been running since 2010 and engaged over 130,000 pupils in asking and answering their own scientific questions.
In 2026, we are delighted to be partnering again with the Great Science Share for Schools initiative to engage pupils in primary schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to conduct pupil-led scientific enquiries and to take part in great science share events.
Would you like to:
- inspire young people about science and engineering?
- increase your confidence in facilitating pupil-led enquiry at your school, enabling children to effectively ask and answer scientific questions?
- see your pupils sharing their science with new audiences in an inclusive and non-competitive environment?
- raise the profile of school science?
Want to know more?
In the latest special edition of The Association for Science Education Primary Science Journal, The Oxford Trust’s Director of Science Education and Engagement Francesca MacLennan reflects on the goals and value of Big Science Event run in collaboration with Great Science Share for Schools. Read this and more about the Great Science Share for Schools in the free-to-access journal.
Read here
What impact on young people does the Great Science Share for Schools have?
Their latest Impact-Ed report shows pupils participating in GSSfS scored 6% higher for resilience and were more likely to engage in reflexive, self-questioning behaviour during their learning process. Outcomes were relatively even across male and female pupils and across socio-economic groups.
How to take part
1. Register for the Big Science Event
Entry into the draw to attend the bring a team of pupils to the Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre on 16th June 2026 has closed.
Registrations for the Big Science Event 2027 will open in the autumn term.
2. Register with the Great Science Share for Schools.
Access and benefit from additional online resources to help you kick-start your pupil-led enquiries in school.
The Great Science Share for Schools recommends to “Ask in Autumn – Investigate in Spring – Share in Summer”, so now is the time to get started!
3. Get started
Ask in Autumn
Tell us what your pupils will be investigating. We would love to hear from you. The questions you submit may appear on our website to showcase the curiosity of those taking part, and to inspire others to ask their own questions.
Investigate in Spring
Your pupils’ chosen investigations could be part of your school science week, science club, science lesson, or a homework project.
Watch a short film with children from Barton Park Primary School telling us about their investigation.
Share in Summer
Choose the type of science share event you would like to be involved in on or around the Great Science Share on the 16th June 2026. Although the Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre has passed, you could still run a science share event in your school.
Share and celebrate your enquiries with…
The Big Science Event at the Science Oxford Centre
Chosen through a draw, teams of six pupils from 15 schools were invited to share their scientific enquiry with pupils from other schools and with STEM professionals in our special science share event on 16th June. The day will include other exciting, hands-on STEM activities too! (T&Cs below)
A science share event at your school
Run your own science share event at your school or arrange a collaborative event with partnership schools. Invite STEM champions – school governors, parents working in the STEM sector, local business representatives or others. If your school is a member of Science Oxford, you can request a Science Oxford STEM champion to visit your school when you register. We’ll aim to visit as many school events as possible, subject to availability.
4. Tell us more about your plans
We would love to hear about your pupils’ investigations, so share details of your investigations or science share events via your social channels, tagging @scienceoxford and using the hashtag #BigScienceEvent and #GSSfS2026, or send an email to [email protected].