News | Updated safeguarding guidance addresses generative AI concerns Kids in Museums offers advice on using images of children on websites and social media

Updated safeguarding guidance addresses generative AI concerns - Museums Association

Kids in Museums offers advice on using images of children on websites and social media

museumsassociation.org

Science and discovery centres are making headlines: Plea to @andyburnham.bsky.social to save science centres which attract over 5 million visitors a year. www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2234... #ScienceCentres #DiscoveryCentres #ScienceEngagement #Innovation #STEM #ScienceForEveryone

Plea to Andy Burnham to save science centres facing £180 funding black hole

Plea to PM to save science centres which attract more than five million visitors a year.

express.co.uk

VOTE FOR OUR NEXT COMMITTEE Read about the candidates who have stepped forward to be our new Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and General Officers and cast your votes to elect our new committee before midday 16 July. forms.gle/4zauagKk6fyu...

🎟️ Early bird rate for #ASDC26 closes TOMORROW 🎟️ This is your last chance to save £35 per ticket for the ASDC Conference 2026, as our early bird rate closes at 5:30pm tomorrow (30th June)! Find out more and buy tickets here: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/asdc-nationa... Unsure about coming? Read on ⬇️

Full support from ASDC for this call to halt funding cuts to astronomy and particle physics research.

Royal Astronomical Society@royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Stars of physics are in Westminster right now to call on the Government to halt funding cuts to astronomy and particle physics research. Professor Brian Cox called them "inexplicable", urging the Government to instead "trust, inspire and continue to invest in the next generation of scientists".

🚨 Last chance to submit your proposals for #ASDC26! 🚨 If you want your idea to be part of our conference programme this October, you only have until 5:30pm on this Wednesday 17th June to submit your ideas! Go go go: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/asdc-nationa...

This #LondonTechWeek we're asking 'how does the public really feel about AI?' Find out in the latest national science engagement programme run by 15 of the UK's science centres, museums and outreach organisations www.sciencecentres.org.uk/news/how-doe... #AISummit2026 #AIforGood #SciComm

Over 70,000 people explore artificial intelligence through national ‘Demystifying AI’ programme

Over 70,000 people explore artificial intelligence through national ‘Demystifying AI’ programme

sciencecentres.org.uk

📢 Call for submissions! 📢 Passionate about public engagement, science communication or the informal science education sector? Got an idea for a conference session on the theme of 'Who cares about science?' We want to hear from you! ⬇️

It's Volunteers' Week, and we want to shout out our ASDC Trustees. We massively appreciate the ways they guide and challenge our strategic direction, continually supporting us to grow and thrive. ❤️ Want to celebrate your volunteers? Nominate them for our Volunteer Awards! (1/2)

The @royalsociety.org launched their new #ScienceForSociety report exploring the multiple interconnections between science and the public, proposing recommendations for how these connections might be strengthened. royalsociety.org/news-resourc...

Science for society | Royal Society

The Royal Society has published the Science for society report exploring the multiple connections between science and the public, and proposes recommendations for how these connections might be streng...

royalsociety.org

Upcoming ASDC events! May Members' Forum: Sector data trends and insights (13th May, 2-3pm) June Members' Forum: Launching the Volunteer Awards (3rd June, 2-3pm) Conference 2026: Who cares about science? Early bird tickets + group offers + call for submissions #ASDC26 sciencecentres.org.uk/events

Events and training

Events and training

sciencecentres.org.uk

Who cares about science? This is the question we'll be discussing at the ASDC Conference 2026, 14th-15th October @techniquest.org, Wales. Join STEM education specialists, public engagement professionals, sci-comms, researchers, industry leaders & funders #ASDC26 sciencecentres.org.uk/asdc-nationa...

The Science Teaching Survey 2026 is open! If you work in education, you know the challenges better than anyone so we want to hear from you. Take 15 mins to complete the survey. Your answers will tell us what to focus on and shape our support. 📆 Survey closes 27 March 🔗 https://bit.ly/4aZ5OU6

Calling all ASDC members! 🔁 Ever thought about doing a science centre staff swap? 🔁 In March's forum we'll be discussing how to harness our network through project-linked staff swaps and self-directed member tours. Wednesday 4th March, 2-3pm Register ⬇️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/asdc-...

ASDC March Members' Forum: Member tours and staff swaps

ASDC March Members' Forum: Member tours and staff swaps

sciencecentres.org.uk

JOSH AWARD 2026 APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN! The winner of this national award in science communication and engagement will develop and deliver a new project to run at Science Festivals, Science Discovery Centres, or other outreach events. Full details at big.uk.com/josh/ Deadline 10 April 2026.

BIG Event 2026 Registration is Open Now! Join us at the National STEM Learning Centre 15-17 July for top quality skills sharing, networking and our famous Best Demo competition! Early bird tickets and our bursary scheme are now open, with early bird closing 31 March! www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026

Today is UNESCO's International Day of Women and Girls in Science! This year, with funding from UK Space Agency, science and discovery centres around the UK are running events to spotlight women in science and encourage girls to see themselves as scientists.

A quick reminder of the upcoming ASDC events for project partners, members and the wider public engagement community. For timings, further details and to register please visit the events and training page on our website - www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/

"SDCs are not optional extras, but vital national assets" An incredible speech delivered by @stevewitherdenmp.bsky.social at the Westminster Hall debate yesterday. We were glued to Parliament TV 👀 Watch again here: parliamentlive.tv/event/index/...

Parliamentlive.tv

Westminster Hall

parliamentlive.tv

Tomorrow (14th January), 2.30pm-4pm, a Westminster Hall debate on the impact of Science and Discovery Centres on national science and technology priorities is set to take place. Tune in to the live stream on the Parliament Live website: www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons Find out more in the thread ⬇️

Parliamentlive.tv - Commons

parliamentlive.tv

We're pleased to announce the launch of a new national science engagement programme 'Demystifying AI'! Fifteen organisations have received funding to support young people, families, schools and communities to understand AI in everyday life and careers and skills development in AI. Read more 🔽

Huge thanks to @sciencecentres.bsky.social for making this child-friendly feedback collection resource public. If you want to try it out yourself, you can download it here: inclusion.sciencecentres.org.uk/evaluating-i...

Colour-in mood characters

An engaging and fun way to consider and express emotions and involvement in sessions. This chart explores whether participants felt inspired, excited, or bored, left out and out-of-depth.With particip...

inclusion.sciencecentres.org.uk

Final call for the 'Navigating eco-anxiety together' session tomorrow, Wed 10th Dec (10-12pm), with speakers Dr Caroline Hickman and Dr Helen Featherstone. This free online event is open to all ASDC members. Register now 👇 www.sciencecentres.org.uk/events/navig...

Navigating eco-anxiety together

Navigating eco-anxiety together

sciencecentres.org.uk

❄️ Come along to the ASDC Festive Forum! ❄️ We'll be celebrating the season with - 🚀 An announcement of mini space engagement grants 🎙️ The premiere of ASDC's audio time capsule (as recorded at this year's conference) ✨ Highlights from the year ❓ A festive fun quiz Register here: tktp.as/EHKJIQ

December Members’ Forum: The Festive Forum

By Association for Science and Discovery Centres

tktp.as

Today, 25th Nov, we delivered an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, and Science Minister Lord Vallance calling on the Government to recognise science and discovery centres as a core part of the UK’s scientific, educational and cultural infrastructure.

📢 Final call to sign the #ScienceCentresForOurFuture open letter. It takes just 2 mins, pls add your name now: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...

Association for science and discovery centres open letter 2025

This open letter is part of the campaign 'Science Centres for our Future: Supporting engagement, education and diversity in STEM for the next 25 years' calling on the Department for Science, Innovatio...

sciencecentres.org.uk

LinkedIn Clinic: How to build a professional and organisational presence by Petra Gudelj and Sophia Constantinou. 3 December 2025, 1 - 3pm GMT via Zoom More info and book at www.big.uk.com/event-6410654

We’re celebrating #NationalEngineeringDay ⚡ @raeng.org.uk just launched the AI-Z of Engineering – a modern, future focused guide to engineering careers. Explore the breadth and creativity of engineering roles and see how they could evolve over the next 25 years via thisisengineering.org.uk

STAND UP FOR SCIENCE! ☝ Please support the #ScienceCentresForOurFuture campaign by signing our open letter calling on the Government to recognise science and discovery centres as part of the UK’s scientific and cultural ecosystem. Sign now sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...