SunSpaceArt - 2021

The aim of this funding application is to build on and consolidate the past year's success with new 'on-line' material and 'virtual' activities, for home education, school workshops and CPD (Continued Professional Development) sessions. This level of virtual 'on-line' activity was never anticipated in our original SunSpaceArt project (which started five years ago). However, we have realised that it has the potential to extend our reach to a much wider group of teachers, children and families. The SunSpaceArt, SSA, project, led by Dr Helen Mason, has been a great success. The SSA team target schools with 'low science capital' and/or in regions of economic deprivation and high ethnicity. COVID-19 has dramatically changed the educational landscape and is likely to lead to further deprivation and inner-city poverty. The COVID-19 restrictions have forced the SSA team to be more creative in the delivery of their project, moving from 'in person' activities to 'virtual' on-line activities. They have successfully achieved this (see details in Case for Support). We shall continue to work closely with teachers and teacher networks to refine our STEAM (STEM + Arts) resources. Free at source and accessible to all participants across the country, we anticipate a high demand for SunSpaceArt resources and activities over the next year or so. The development of quality materials requires the support of people with professional IT and Design skills, so we are working closely with Art Matters Now. The work proposed in this funding application would provide a lasting legacy for the SunSpaceArt project. (see Case for Support for more details)

Schools and teachers will be informed about the available workshops and CPD sessions through existing educational networks and SSA links. A new marketing strategy will deliver a termly newsletter to school and STEM contacts. All new material will be uploaded to the SunSpaceArt.org website and YouTube channel. The electronic book showcasing the SunSpaceArt project will be distributed to all UK libraries. Schools will be informed of the available resources via educational networks, articles in educational journals and social media. HEM and the SSA team will inform the wider research community, outreach communicators and the public through talks, articles, the media and social media. HEM will continue to explore avenues to collaborate with a range of scientists, outreach workers, teachers and artists to develop this project further and encourage more STEAM engagement in schools. The project will be showcased via teachers' conferences, ESERO, STEMLearning, TES, ASE, IoP, NAM and Cambridge University, with full acknowledgement to STFC. Other solar researchers, post-grad students and artists will be encouraged to participate. Partnerships will be explored and extended, building on networks, which have already been established. The SSA team aims to share their work with many networks of contacts (science and arts), through articles, lectures, social media, TV/radio activities which will ensure that the project reaches far and wide.