Cookies

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Otherwise, we'll assume you're OK to continue.

Science Outreach

Supporting Others

Science Outreach also offers support to several other groups. Externally, for example, we have close links with museums in the region, including the Centre for Life, the Discovery Museum and the Great North Museum in Newcastle, the Dorman Museum in Middlesbrough, and Sunderland Museum, and we continue to organise events and provide many talks and activities for other family events. Internally, we also offer support to several other groups within Durham University, including:

i)  Staff Training

We aim to promote best practice and the benefits of engagement activities throughout all the Sciences, sharing our experience and expertise with academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students, further helping to highlight the importance of outreach and to embed it within the institution.

We provide courses as part of the Durham Doctoral Training Programme and in 2011 we also organised and participated in three training events led by The Training Group:

  • "Icebreakers and Games".
  • "Developing Demonstrations and Using Props".
  • Advanced science communication training funded by the National HE STEM Programme "Extending Your Outreach".

ii)  Support for Academic Office Events

Science Outreach also works closely with the Academic Office to provide input to the many activities the university offers for both teachers and school students including the Year 10, 11 and the Durham Gifted and Talented Summer Schools, Residential Teacher Conferences and the Durham Supported Progression Scheme.

iii)  Science Learning Centre North East

A strong relationship exists between Science Outreach and the Science Learning Centre North East (in which the University is the lead partner). Since its opening in 2004 we have designed and delivered many courses as part of their CPD programme for teachers. For example "New views of the Universe" led by Dr. Pete Edwards was the first astronomy course delivered at the centre. We continue to support other activities including the Girls into Physics project and the Teacher Scientist Network.

iv)  Durham University School of Education

Science Outreach has a growing relationship with the School of Education. We currently contribute to the PGCE programme of the school by teaching the core physics element of the Secondary Science PGCE and the School of Education provides input in terms of Educational Research for the Science into Schools modules. We will continue this mutually beneficial relationship and explore ways in which to extend our collaboration.