ASDC has awarded 12 delivery partners grants of £4,000 and £9,500 to participate in the new Explore Your Universe: Valuing Inclusion project, focused on implementing the Valuing Inclusion Theory of Change, using STFC science and technology. Delivery of the engagements with community partners and participants will take place between March and October 2025, followed by an evaluation phase before the project finishes at the end of March 2026.
The twelve delivery partners are:
- Aberdeen Science Centre
- Dundee Science Centre
- Dynamic Earth
- Explorer Dome
- Kielder Observatory
- Life science centre
- National Space Centre
- Royal Astronomical Society
- STEM Discovery Centre
- W5 Science and Discovery Centre
- Winchester science centre
- Xplore! science discovery centre
The Valuing Inclusion Theory of Change is specifically relevant for lower science capital audiences, who face multiple barriers to participation in STEM. This piece of work comes from the last 7 years of work across the network and is supported by STFC to promote equity and inclusion for it's many benefits for individuals and society, and as the key to unlocking more diverse participation in STEM research, development, industry and innovation for the future of the UK.
In this programme, the developed ASDC Theory of Change is being used as a sector tool guiding practice towards impactful and measurable inclusive STEM outcomes.
"Our aim is is to embody and evidence the Theory of Change, utilise a shared language that values and articulates our work, and further evidence the disruptive power science and discovery centres have to break down perceived barriers between science/scientists and society." - Shaaron Leverment, Project Director & Chief Executive, ASDC
This programme is a continuation of the work of Explore Your Universe: Valuing Inclusion (2024) and is funded by Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), part of UKRI. This is the final grant programme within the Explore Your Universe series which started as a partnership between STFC and ASDC in 2011.
"The programme has developed greatly over time, from a straightforward delivery project at the start, to a project which now is a force for equity and social justice through science and technology." - STFC APPE member