Purpose and vision

The Great Science Share for Schools is a campaign for everyone to involve young people from 5-14 years in asking, investigating and sharing a scientific question they care about.

It places young people at the heart of the communication of science to each other.

GSSfS is relevant to all young people, in whatever educational setting, any where across the world.

3 simple values provide the foundations to all campaign activity:

• Learner-focused science communication

• Inclusive and non-competitive engagement

• Promotes collaboration on many levels

The GSSfS concept is simple and transferable.

Young people decide on a scientific question they care about. They work scientifically to gather evidence and draw conclusions and share their learning with new audiences.

GSSfS is a supports teachers and educators in their endeavour to raise the profile of science in schools and communities.

With the young people being the communicators, this is unique in enhancing their agency and involvement in science enquiry.

With the status of school science in the UK lower than other core curriculum subjects, GSSfS leads to

• more time for science learning in school and at home

• more open-ended opportunities led by young people asking, investigating and communicating their own scientific questions

• more involvement from different audiences who may not traditionally engage with science

• more focus on real-world issues aligned to global sustainability within a curriculum, mainstream context.

First launched as part of the European City of Science in 2016, the campaign grew from strong roots in SEERIH’s children-to-children’s science conferences.  Since then, the initiative has continued to grow in size, importance and overall impact at a international level.

What impact on young people does the Great Science Share for Schools have?

Evaluation of the campaign has shown how the Great Science Share for Schools impacts on children’s learning in science: