Discovery Planet Pop-Up
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Kent
Department Name: Sch of Physical Sciences
Abstract
Through an exciting programme of six hands-on workshops per year over the course of two years, delivered from a pop-up shop located in the heart of the high street, we will create a prolonged relationship between scientists and members of an under-served audience. Participants will develop the skills and confidence to actively engage with science, and a broad range of STFC related research being carried out at the University of Kent; and understand how it relates to their lives. Workshops will build upon basic scientific principles to explore topics such as telescopes, star formation, impacts in space, material properties and how they relate to atomic scale structure and the accelerator science that allows us to observe that structure. A diverse group of scientists at all stages of their career will develop communication skills allowing them to interact with our target audience and use their personal experiences to create exciting and inspiring activities.
The workshops represent a scaling-up of Discovery Planet's accessible delivery model which involves weaving learning experiences into the everyday lives of people of all ages, and intensive outreach which enables us to reach the most under-served members of Thanet's significantly deprived coastal community. These carefully coordinated engagement experiences allow families to learn together in an informal and accessible way, building science capital in those that would not normally have access to other more traditional experiences. An academic evaluation of the long-term impact of engagement with an under-served audience is an innovative element since such an evaluation has not previously been undertaken, and can be shared widely to extend the collective pool of knowledge for science communicators.
The workshops represent a scaling-up of Discovery Planet's accessible delivery model which involves weaving learning experiences into the everyday lives of people of all ages, and intensive outreach which enables us to reach the most under-served members of Thanet's significantly deprived coastal community. These carefully coordinated engagement experiences allow families to learn together in an informal and accessible way, building science capital in those that would not normally have access to other more traditional experiences. An academic evaluation of the long-term impact of engagement with an under-served audience is an innovative element since such an evaluation has not previously been undertaken, and can be shared widely to extend the collective pool of knowledge for science communicators.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Victoria Mason (Principal Investigator) | |
| Xanthe Pitt (Co-Investigator) |
| Description | Outreach Fund Large Grants |
| Amount | £9,550 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 02/2024 |
| Description | Outreach fund - Small Grants 2022 |
| Amount | £2,580 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2022 |
| End | 11/2022 |
| Description | Being Human Festival CCCU |
| Organisation | Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Discovery Planet project managed two public engagement events for CCCU researchers as part of the national 'Being Human Festival'. DP did the community outreach, organised all the audiences, managed the events on the day including volunteers and venue. |
| Collaborator Contribution | CCCU researchers developed and delivered two workshops. |
| Impact | Dinosaur Bones and Zines workshop Sea Junk Jars and Monsters workshop |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Public Engagement with University of Kent |
| Organisation | University of Kent |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Discovery Planet project managed several public engagement events from the University of Kent, namely Photo Voices, Moonscape Adventure Workshop, The Art of Books workshop, Who Belongs in Science workshop. DP did project planning, community outreach and managed the venue, volunteers and audiences at the events. All activities took place in DP's venue on Ramsgate High Street. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Researchers at the University of Kent developed and delivered workshops for different target audiences in Ramsgate. |
| Impact | Photo Voices workshops Moonscape Adventure workshops The Art of Books workshops Who Belongs in Science workshops |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Time Detectives Workshop |
| Organisation | Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Aided the design and the delivery of the Time Detectives workshops, provided the space and administration, community outreach and school communications. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contributed to the design and delivery of the Time Detectives workshop. |
| Impact | Time detectives workshop. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Art of Books - Know Your Neighborhood workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Art of Books was a re use of the workshop previously delivered by the University of Kent but this time as part of a project funded by the Know Your Neighborhood fund. 80 members of the public attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Art of Feeling Good - Know Your Neighborhood workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was the final workshop for the Know Your Neighborhood fund. Developed and delivered by University of Kent researchers and local health practitioners. 36 members of the public attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Art of Mapping - Know Your Neighborhood workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Art of Mapping was a workshop designed for the Know Your Neighborhood project and was delivered to 197 members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Being Human Festival workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In collaboration with Canterbury Christchurch University and thanks to funding for the national Being Human Festival two workshops based on research carried out at CCCU were delivered to 30 primary school children, 3 teachers and 86 members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Building Skills Workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 302 primary school students and 118 members of the public attended our building skills workshops which we based on our stakeholders request for a workshop focused on the physics of levers and pulleys and hands on engineering skills. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Building the Future workshops - Cummins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Thanks to a collaboration between Discovery Park and Discovery Planet Cummins developed a workshop based on their industry to deliver at the Discovery Planet shop for members of the public. 72 people attended from the local community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Earth Matters Workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 198 primary school students and 149 members of the public attended our 45 minute workshops centered around the role of science in looking after the Earth. The focus was on plastic pollution and was related to work being undertaken at the University of Kent and the local area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Electricity: How, What, Why? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A hands on workshop to aid the understanding of electricity in students aged 8-12 and families. This workshop topic was specifically requested by our stakeholder group. This workshop is part of a two year project and the long term impacts will be evaluated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | End of year 1 Stakeholder meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A stakeholder meeting to review year 1 of workshops and to feedback and co-design the second year of workshops. This session allowed us to change our delivery model slightly to better accommodate our audiences and to get input into the topics for our next set of 6 workshops. Our stakeholders input led to the design of our second year of workshops, including a workshop which will be fully co-designed by a school. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Forensic Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PODCAST related to our Ramsgate CSI workshop to provide participants with follow up information. Interviews with the PhD students involved in delivering the workshop around their backgrounds and research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ramsgateradio.com/discoveryplanet/episode/2c4a00a9/forensic-science |
| Description | Go For Green - Science Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 12 workshops were run over two days (6 for schools, 6 for the general public) in Ramsgate town centre. The focus was clean energy and research into solar cells. Participants took place in several hands on activities around the subject which were linked to research, the school curriculum and local businesses. London Array, a local wind farm business also contributed to the workshop and discussed careers. Several schools reported doing follow up activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Initial Stakeholder meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A workshop with key stakeholders such as local teachers, parents, town planners to discuss how best to move forwards with our project and to put forwards ideas for sessions. Impacts were decisions made around workshop design, scheduling and follow up activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Lapland Logistics Workshops - A4P |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Thanks to funding from Discovery Park, Discovery Planet worked with A4P (a science logistics company) to develop and deliver a workshop based on their work. The workshops were delivered to 150 primary school students, 17 teachers and 131 members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Light Fantastic - Science Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A hands on workshop based on key concepts of light linked to the national curriculum and research of the Applied Optics group at the University of Kent. Delivered 12 sessions to schools and home educated students plus 6 sessions to the general public. This was the first session in our new permanent venue on the high street and all schools expressed interest to attend our other planned sessions. Local Specsavers provided some information leaflets and Association of Optometrists provided video resources for schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Listen to your heart |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A hands on workshop covering biological and sports science related topics to do with a healthy heart. This topic was requested by our stakeholder group. This is part of a long term project, the overall impacts of which will be evaluated. Academics and postgraduate students delivering this session stated they would like to run similar activities again. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ramsgateradio.com/discoveryplanet/episode/1e00637b/listen-to-your-heart |
| Description | Listen to your heart PODCAST |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A PODCAST to follow up on our Listen to your heart workshop, interviewing the lead academic about their background and their research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ramsgateradio.com/discoveryplanet/episode/1e00637b/listen-to-your-heart |
| Description | Magical Materials |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A liquid nitrogen science show for school children aged 8-12 and families to discuss the phases of matter. The show brought families together to learn and sparked curiosity and engagement with science in all age groups. The workshop is part of a broader series of workshops and the long term impact of these are being evaluated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Mega Zooming |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A hands on workshop for students aged 8-12 and families with a focus on the solar system and telescopes. The show brought families together to learn and sparked curiosity and engagement with science in all age groups. The workshop is part of a broader series of workshops and the long term impact of these are being evaluated. Academics involved stated they would like to do more engagement activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meteorite Mash Up |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A hands on workshop outlining current research into micro meteorites, including a contribution to a citizen science project, by searching through real material for micrometeorites. The show brought families together to learn and sparked curiosity and engagement with science in all age groups. The workshop is part of a broader series of workshops and the long term impact of these are being evaluated. Two academics and 3 PhD students gained experience in communicating with the public. They have had subsequent ideas around engagement activities and have sought and received further funding for more activities. Presenters agreed to create a Podcast about their work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ramsgateradio.com/discoveryplanet/episode/33569761/meteorites |
| Description | Meteorites |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | PODCAST related to our Meteorite Mash Up workshop, interviewing the academics regarding their backgrounds and their current research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.ramsgateradio.com/discoveryplanet/episode/33569761/meteorites |
| Description | Moonscape Adventures |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop funded by the University of Kent was delivered in collaboration with Discovery Planet. The workshop focused on a group of researchers at Kent investigating the surface of the moon. 113 primary school students attended and 78 members of the public attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Motherhood Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Birthrights exhibition, from research undertaken at the University of Kent, was on show across two days for the public to view and take part in activities and share their stories of their experiences of birth. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Proud 2 Create ART4ALL project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In July 2023 thanks to Art4All funding the Discovery Planet shop became a workshop for local artists who have special educational needs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Ramsgate CSI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A hands on workshop demonstrating fingerprint techniques used in Forensic Science. This workshop theme was specifically requested by our stakeholders. In total 441 participants took part. The workshop is part of a 2 year programme and the long term impacts are being evaluated. Research students who delivered the workshops stated they were keen to do more activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ramsgateradio.com/discoveryplanet/episode/2c4a00a9/forensic-science |
| Description | Small Haven Collab Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Our final workshop as part of the original Nucleus award was co-developed with Small Haven school, a school in Ramsgate specifically for students with SEN. Three visits to the school were made to develop the workshop which was based on algorithms and centered on programming LEGO robots. 219 primary school students and 131 members of the public attended the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Solar Watt? workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Solar Watt was a workshop funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry to develop and deliver a workshop co-designed by local industry involved in aspects of sustainability. Discovery Planet worked with a local company called SGS Energy who as well as designing and installing solar panel arrays do other research into sustainable energy. 244 primary school children, 43 teachers and 81 members of the public attended the workshops. 1 member of SGS Energy attended all the workshops to help with delivery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Spiders - Venomtech workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Thanks to Discovery Park funding and Royal Society funding Discovery Planet co-designed a workshop based on the work carried out at Venomtech. The workshops were delivered to 328 primary school students, 10 secondary school students, 47 teachers and 223 members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Art of Books |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Art of Books workshops were a collaboration between researchers in the area of special collections at the University of Kent and Discovery Planet. Workshops were delivered to 20 secondary school students and 37 members of the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Time Detectives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A workshop to explore the work of scientists who observe particles in ancient artefacts and find ways to slow down changes that may damage the structures so that they can be investigated and enjoyed for years to come. Students and families explored heritage science and in particular links to the local maritime heritage. This workshop is part of a 2 year programme and the longer term impacts are being evaluated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Who Belongs In Science workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Who belongs in science is a workshop designed by researchers at the University of Kent in collaboration with Discovery Planet. 73 secondary school students attended the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |