School children will have the chance to explore their scientific curiosity with top scientists across the country.
As part of the Great Science Share for Schools campaign, more than 500,000 primary and secondary school pupils will take part in a celebratory event where they will get the chance to ask and explore their own scientific questions, take part in experiments and be inspired into science and engineering.
The national campaign was launched by The University of Manchester to elevate the prominence of science in the classroom.
Now in its eighth year, the campaign has seen exponential growth with over 500,000 primary and secondary school pupils signed up to participate this year. Thousands of schools and STEM organisations across the UK and internationally, will be sharing science on 13 June 2023.
The University of Manchester will host 30 primary and secondary schools from across Greater Manchester in its newly opened Engineering Building.
This year's theme is Science Around Us - an idea that provides an opportunity to focus on the important role science has to play in addressing the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
The pupils have spent weeks gathering data, analysing, and drawing conclusions about a wide range of questions, including:
- Does the amount of air pollution affect the amount of biodiversity around our school?
- Does the material used for the wing of a glider plane affect the distance it travels?
- Can we identify and classify living things around us?
- Can we stop or slow down the time it takes for the polar ice caps to melt?
- Could reflection of light help tackle climate change?
The event at The University of Manchester will be attended by Councillor Yasmine Dar the Lord Mayor of Manchester, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, Councillor for Baguley Tracey Rawlins, alongside other local business, and education professionals. The guests will be encouraged to listen and question the pupils about their findings as part of this inclusive and non-competitive event.
Professor Lynne Bianchi, Campaign Director and Director of the Science and Engineering Education Research Innovation Hub at The University of Manchester, said: "We are always encouraged by the way teachers and educators make the Great Science Share for Schools their own - and the engagement figures prove that the campaign continues to make a difference across the UK and internationally. Every scientific question a child is able to ask, investigate and share is a question worth listening to - and each of us has a responsibility to support our younger generations to that."
Research states that if children do not develop an identity for STEM before leaving primary school, they are unlikely to be able to do it the older they grow. The Great Science Share for Schools events aim to empower children to tell their own scientific stories at a critically influential time - a vital approach to instilling the skills and attitudes towards science from an early age.
