Photo credit: Eureka!
The Royal Society, London, SW1Y 5AG
Monday 18th to Tuesday 19th November
This unique event brought together people from across the sphere of science engagement to strengthen our collaborative potential for a diverse and fairer science future.
Working in partnership with many of the UK’s leading STEM funders, national bodies and charities, the conference programme of talks, workshops, networking sessions and discussions explored how we shape the future of science in our rapidly changing world.
Delegates enjoyed time to connect with CEOs, senior managers and science education and engagement professionals from science and discovery centres, museums, eco-attractions, national STEM networks, outreach, research centres and university public engagement departments to develop new working practices and build sector knowledge.
This key annual event provides the time and space for delegates to discuss topics such as sustainability and the climate crisis, financial stability and resilience, diversity, equity and artificial intelligence and individual issues or challenges. Delegates value this time together to make new connections, collaborate, share ideas and inspiring practice and discuss the collective purpose that guides us in our mission for a society where science is accessible, inclusive, and valued as a fundamental part of everyday life.
Keynote speakers for 2024:
Thank you to our keynote speakers who shared their expertise and insights with delegates on the future of science, technology, research and innovation in the UK, and the value and power of our network within this vision.
Clockwise from top left: Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Regius Professor of Botany at the University of Cambridge
Chi Onwurah MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee and advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM
Professor Tom Crick MBE, Chief Scientific Adviser, DCMS and Professor of Digital Policy and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Swansea University
Caroline Hickman, Psychotherapist, Lecturer at the University of Bath and International Authority on Climate Psychology
With thanks to our sponsors and supporters:
Photo of the entrance to The Royal Society, the independent scientific academy of the UK dedicated to promoting excellence in science for the benefit of humanity.
“What a fantastic place to network with some of the best minds in the field of Science Communication and Innovative Technologies. It was wonderful to see some brilliant ideas take shape and also cultivate milestones for the future.”
“…it was wonderful to see our work highlighted during Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser’s inspirational keynote speech. As she discussed, creating spaces where everybody speaks and everybody learns can be transformative in how we reclaim research and innovation to being viewed as intrinsic to all of us rather than ‘scientists’.”
“Tom Crick's keynote to start day two has changed the way I view science, helping me recognise that it plays a prominent role in day-to-day life without me needing to think about it. I also think Tom's message that science centres and museum have an important role to play in mainstreaming science and demonstrating its economic and intrinsic value will help set the direction for these institutions to best present their work to potential funders.”
Quotes from some of the conference delegates