We've been awarded £105,000 through the Royal Society's new Science Community Grant programme to help young people investigate science, engineering and environmental challenges using waterways.
Deliverying hands-on STEM projects
We're one of just ten UK STEM organisations selected for the three-year programme, funded through a donation from the Julia Rausing Trust. It is the first Royal Society grant awarded to us.
Working with 25 secondary schools, we will deliver hands-on STEM projects for young people aged 14 to 16 in areas where opportunities to engage with science, technology, engineering and maths can be limited. The programme is expected to engage at least 750 young people each year, reaching around 2,250 students over its three-year duration.
Students will undertake practical investigations linked to local waterways, exploring topics such as water quality, ecology, engineering and digital technologies while developing scientific enquiry, problem-solving and data analysis skills.
The programme aims not only to inspire young people and raise confidence in STEM subjects, but also to create lasting partnerships between schools and STEM professionals, build teachers' confidence in delivering practical science, and enable schools to continue investigative STEM learning independently once the grant has ended.
Building long-term relationships
Laura Giddings, our national STEM education coordinator, said: “Our waterways are living classrooms where young people can see science, engineering, technology and the environment working together in the real world.
"This award will allow us to build meaningful, long-term relationships with 25 schools and give young people the opportunity to investigate challenges connected with their own communities.
"By working alongside STEM professionals, students will develop practical skills, discover career opportunities and, we hope, build a lasting interest in STEM. Just as importantly, teachers and schools will gain the confidence, resources and support needed to continue this work beyond the grant."
Be inspired
Sir Paul Nurse, president of the Royal Society, said: “I am very pleased to announce these ten Science Community Grants. The Royal Society has long advocated for practical hands-on science to be conducted in schools.
“Schools are where most people first encounter science. Practical science helps students experience the scientific process, evaluate evidence, understand uncertainty, and appreciate how science helps us understand and improve the world.
“We want all students to experience and be inspired by science. Embedding more practical science in schools is an important step to help build future generations of scientists and innovators, and to equip people with the scientific literacy required to be successful citizens.”
Applications from eligible secondary schools will open in October 2026, ahead of the programme starting in spring 2027. Schools can register their interest by emailing [email protected].
