Thinking, Doing, Talking Science informs guidance to improve primary science teaching

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

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…

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.

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.

The science of popcorn and beyond! Summer Cinema entertains communities

From the science of popcorn to Super Mario Bros., over 100 children and young people enjoyed a brand new series of summer cinema and family fun at the Science Oxford Centre

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.  

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…

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.

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.

Building communities at the Science Oxford Centre

We believe the Science Oxford Centre is for everyone. This February half-term, we’re doing things a little differently, and welcoming children and their families from Oxford-based community organisations to our Centre.

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.

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.

Gadgeteers enjoy inventive library tour this summer

We were delighted to visit seven libraries across Oxfordshire this summer with our free Incredible Inventions family show…

Presenter Network Oxfordshire is back for 2022!

Calling Oxfordshire presenters! If you love inspiring audiences in museums, discovery and visitor centres, science communication or the media, the Presenter Network is for you! Our Education Programme Officer, Ian Snell, dons his ‘Presenting-hat’ as leader of the Oxfordshire Hub and tells all…

Applications now open for our STEM Insight Week

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!

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…

“Science Oxford changed my life”

We met Steven Williams at the Wood Centre for Innovation to find out how Science Oxford changed his life.

A hot summer in the woodland

As summer temperatures reach the highest ever recorded in the UK today, the effects on the natural world and how to look after our green spaces and wildlife is on our all minds. Luckily, we’re in good hands at the Science Oxford Centre with our Outdoor Learning and Ecology Manager, Dr Roger Baker — read his woodland update, and top tips to keep a cool head in these unprecedented times.

Young scientists shine at Big Science Event summer finals

The sun shone for the finals of our Big Science Event 2022 this week. Held at the Science Oxford Centre in Headington on 11th & 12th July, children from 24 primary schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire were competing in this year’s grand final – a competition to find the county’s most engaging and experimental young scientists.

Summer of Science – hands-on family fun with Science Oxford

Summer is here and we’re looking forward to a jam-packed programme of hands-on science! Our popular Summer Science Camps are back at the Science Oxford Centre during the holidays, for children age 6-9 (August…

Teachers inspired at the Primary Science Conference

The Science Oxford Centre was filled with primary teachers from across the Oxfordshire and Reading areas on Monday 4th July for the annual Primary Science Conference – the first full day in-person conference since before the pandemic.

Catapulting careers in STEM – meet our placement student

If you’re considering a career in STEM, there’s a world of opportunity waiting! Earlier this year we were delighted to welcome a PhD student from Sheffield University, Ruth Thomas, who…

A not completely alive Live Lab session

If you visit the Science Oxford Centre for a Family Day this summer, you just might see something unusual. Our pop up ‘Live Lab’ is an interactive space where families get to meet a scientist, student or researcher – or one of our expert team.

String, the super-weird and the story of life – children inspired by ‘Extinct’ tales

School children from Oxfordshire were inspired by string, the super-weird and stories of life at a recent ‘Extinct’ talk with scientist and TV presenter Professor Ben Garrod, for Oxford Literary Festival. The…

Woodland springs to life at the Science Oxford Centre

Earlier this March, we caught up with our Outdoor Ecology and Education Manager, Dr Roger Baker, to find out what’s springing up in the woodland and grounds around the Science…

British Science Week – back with a bang!

With British Science Week (BSW) just around the corner, we’re excited to be engaging with so many schools and families. British Science Week is a ten-day national celebration of science, technology,…

Centre awarded Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge

We are thrilled to announce our Science Oxford Centre was recently re-awarded the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom’s Quality Badge, a seal of approval that shows to schools that…

Sir Martin Wood – engineer, philanthropist, and conservationist (1927-2021)

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our patron and founder, Sir Martin Wood (1927-2021). A joint statement by sister charities: Earth Trust, The Oxford Trust…