Science Oxford Centre Archives

Group of young school children in woodland with 2 teachers, and man pointing for them to look at something

Expectation versus reality: Identifying the real and imagined risks in the woodland

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.

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

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.

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…

Photograph of Steven Williams with woodland as backdrop

“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.

Portrait,Of,Child,Blond,Girl,With,Cricket,Insect,Sitting,On

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.

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…

Give a little love to our woodland and world at the Science Oxford Centre

On Science and Innovation Day at #COP26, climate change and our environment are at the forefront of our minds as we check in with our Outdoor Education and Ecology Manager, Dr Roger…

Inspiring change at the Science Oxford Centre

Science Oxford is delighted to have taken part in ‘Project Inspire’ with the Association of Science and Discovery Centres‘ (ASDC) this spring and summer and inspired change in our Centre!…

Summer woodland delights at the Science Oxford Centre

Enjoying the outdoors this summer? We were delighted to finally welcome back visitors to our Centre this season, where we are lucky enough to have 15 acres of woodlands, grassland…

Wantage Church of England Primary and The Disraeli School win Science Oxford’s Big Science Event 2021

A team of children from Wantage Church of England Primary School Nursery won this year’s Big Science Event for Oxfordshire with their experiment on What makes snow melt faster? and…

The science of gardening – top tips for National Gardening Week

As spring arrives, we’re championing the great outdoors for National Gardening Week – the UK’s biggest annual celebration of gardening, organised by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) 26th April –…

Science Oxford receives Project Inspire grant for digital engagement

Science Oxford is delighted to announce successful funding from the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) for their Project Inspire: Digital Engagement and Innovation Programme. The project is…

Branching out: celebrating National Tree Week at the Science Oxford Centre

Planting trees seems more important than ever under the current circumstances – a chance to create positive change. This year we have been funded by the Tree Council Branching Out…

Anneliese Dodds MP visits the Science Oxford Centre

Anneliese Dodds MP took time out to visit our Science Oxford Centre recently with her daughter for one of our Family Open Days. During the week, the Centre is open for…

Experiment with Kitchen Science

Have you’ve been inspired by our Big Science Event at home? Are you’re looking for investigation ideas for all the family? How about some fun kitchen science? From baking cakes…

Experiment with Outdoor Science

Want to take part in our Big Science Event at home this summer? Are you looking for outdoor projects that you can do with all the family? It’s the perfect…

Science Oxford supports Science Centres for our Future Campaign

Science Oxford joins over 40 members of the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres’ (ASDC) nationwide campaign to call for Government to set up an Emergency Resilience Fund to…

Science Oxford’s Bridget Holligan wins Beetlestone Award

Our very own Head of Education and Engagement, Bridget Holligan has been awarded the 2020 Beetlestone Award for informal learning in science. She talks about her 27 years of involvement…

Cats, Easter eggs and Rube Goldberg machines – deliver the Science Oxford Challenge

We’re all facing new challenges at the moment, and looking for creative ways to bring fun and learning into the home during ‘lockdown’. So why not get your household and…

Expert Explainers Tell All at the Science Oxford Centre

This term Science Oxford has been involved in a national programme to increase diversity and inclusion in science. We are one of just 15 organisations who are delivering initiatives as…

Helen & Douglas House children visit the Science Oxford Centre

We were pleased to have children from Helen and Douglas House visit our new Science Oxford Centre at Stansfeld Park, Headington. Helen & Douglas House is an Oxford-based children’s hospice…

Oxford champion will go to FameLab UK final

We celebrated the launch of British Science Week with the Oxford FameLab Regional Final 2020 at our new Science Oxford Centre Theatre at Stansfeld Park. Our eight brave and brilliant…

Explore our world with British Science Week

British Science Week is officially here. The Science Oxford team is excited to bring hands-on science-inspired fun to over 5000 school children, families and adults across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire over…

Science Oxford’s STEM Insight Week: A first byte into big data

In February, the Science Oxford team ran a STEM Insight Week on Computing and Coding for fifteen Year 10 students from schools across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The idea of our…

FameLab back with a Bang – Oxford’s battle of the brains begins

This February, we put science centre-stage and hosted FameLab UK’s first round of Oxford heats, where sci-curious stars of the future battle it out for a place in the nation’s…

Science Oxford Centre trialling post-visit activities for schools

The Science Oxford Centre (SOC) team is currently trialling a series of post-visit activities for teachers to try out at school. Teachers have many calls on their time and we…

Science Oxford Centre now open for bookings for summer term

With visits from over 1200 pupils from 21 schools and fabulous reviews from both children and teachers, the Science Oxford Centre is now taking school bookings for the summer term….

Playforce donates generous prizes for our Big Science Event 2020

Playground experts, Playforce are kindly donating generous prizes to the winners of our 2020 Big Science Event competition for primary school pupils. The winning schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire will…

Year in review 2019: One giant leap for Science Oxford…

In a year which saw the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Apollo moon landing celebrated globally, Science Oxford took a giant leap of its own and launched the brand-new Science…

From acorn to oak – celebrate National Tree Week

Surrounding the Science Oxford Centre at Stansfeld Park, we have 15 acres of beautiful woodland, making it the largest within the ring road. National Tree Week (23rdNovember – 1stDecember) signals…

Search for new science stars comes to Oxford

It’s time to nourish those neurones as the UK’s longest running competition for the science stars of the future comes to Oxford this winter. Science Oxford is delighted to announce…

Robot battle competition comes to Oxford

This Saturday (30thNovember), we will be welcoming robot fans from across the country to the Science Oxford Centre for the Antweight World Series 60 (AWS 60) competition. AWS is a…

ISEN-sational news for Science Oxford

Sophie Batin, our education outreach manager, has become a member of the British Science Association’s new Inclusive Science Engagement Network (ISEN). This national network aims to support members to make…