- Who's Behind EYU
- Contact
- Search
Explore Your Universe is ASDC’s national strategic STEM programme which has been delivered by 23 science centres and partners across the UK. Over 380,987 people took part in Phases 1, 2 and 3 between 2012 and 2018.
In 2011, The UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) began an exciting strategic partnership which brought together some of the most fascinating and diverse cutting-edge science in the country with the talents and infrastructure of the nation’s largest network of dedicated science engagement organisations. This pioneering partnership for the first time leveraged the reach and impact of UK science and discovery centres, which attract 20 million children and adults every year, for a research council.
The partnership began with a two-year national strategic programme called ‘Explore Your Universe: from Atoms to Astrophysics’, which had the goal of ‘inspiring a new sense of excitement amongst young people around the physical sciences by sharing the amazing stories and technologies of STFC’.
Phase 1 of this programme ran for two years (2012-2014). In the first year, ASDC worked with partners at the National Space Centre, Leicester, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfield and the STFC facilities to create an exceptional set of hands-on activities, experiments, schools workshops, public shows, meet-the-expert sessions, website and a variety of other resources to share the inspirational science of STFC.
From the National Space Centre, Sophie Allan, Dr Sarah Hill, Dr Kierann Shah and Anu Ohja developed the school’s workshop. Dr Teresa Anderson and Naomi Wyles from Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre focussed on the public programme.
All contributed to the overall direction of the project under the guidance of the Science and Engagement Advisory Panel and all wrote the resources available on this website.
Many staff from the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres have been involved in the Explore Your Universe programme.
Dr Penny Fidler – CEO and Project Director (2012 – 2018)
Shaaron Leverment – Deputy CEO and Project Director (2018 – present)
Dr Michaela Livingstone – Special Projects Manager (2012-2015)
James Summers – Special Projects Manager (2015 – 2017)
Maddy Foard – Project Manager (2017)
Dr Jaclyn Bell – Special Projects Manager (2017 – 2019)
Abi Ashton – Space and Physics Project Manager (2019 onwards)
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is keeping the UK at the forefront of international science and tackling some of the most significant challenges facing society such as meeting our future energy needs, monitoring and understanding climate change, and global security. The Council has a broad science portfolio and works with the academic and industrial communities to share its expertise in materials science, space and ground-based astronomy technologies, laser science, microelectronics, wafer scale manufacturing, particle and nuclear physics, alternative energy production, radio communications and radar.
STFC operates or hosts world class experimental facilities including:
STFC also enables UK researchers to access leading international science facilities by funding membership of international bodies including European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
It enables UK researchers to access leading international science facilities by funding membership of international bodies including European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN), the Institut Laue Langevin (ILL), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the European Southern Observatory (ESO).
STFC also has an extensive public outreach and engagement programme. It is using its world leading research to inspire and enthuse schools and the general public about the impact and benefits that science can have on society.
STFC is one of seven publicly-funded research councils. It is an independent, non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).
Follow STFC on Twitter @STFC_Matters