SunSpaceArt - Building on Success

The SunSpaceArt, SSA, project is a diverse team of artists, scientists and educators, led by Dr Helen Mason OBE, who have been running STEAM (STEM + Arts) workshops in schools and Continued Professional Development, CPD, for teachers for the past 6 years. We target the 7-12 age range (KS2/3). The aim of the project is to educate and inspire children using the context of the Sun, Solar System, astronomy and space science. The SSA project is funded by STFC.

Our focus is on school children from diverse backgrounds, most in need of science enrichment (in areas with a high Index of Multiple Deprivation, IMD, at schools with a high Pupil Premium, PP, percentage, >30%), also including SEND and BAME children. In addition, we have run many family 'drop-in' activities at science festivals across the UK. In 2020/21, the SSA team directly reached over 50 schools, 2300 children and 400 teachers and indirectly reached many thousands more. The feedback form both teachers and children is excellent. For example: 'The children were very engaged with both the scientific and artistic parts of the workshop, asking good questions in both and having lots of enthusiasm...I continue to be so impressed and delighted by what you do.' (teacher). 'I enjoyed making space our own way with art'. 'I liked seeing how big the planets and the stars are'. 'I learnt what telescopes can see and how amazing it is' (children).

This STFC Legacy application, following on from an STFC SPARKS Award (01/09/21-30/03/23), would enable the SSA team to build on their recent success, reaching further, continuing to focus on schools most in need of support. The team plans to continue working with schools in London, Wales and Greater Manchester, the NE (PP > 30%), but is also keen to extend its reach, in Essex (with Kulvinder Johal, Primary Science Teaching Trust, PSTT, mentor) and in East Anglia (with Dr Matt Bothwell, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge University). Sadly, the COVID19 pandemic has widened the UK's economic and educational inequalities, which has had a serious impact on some school children. Emma Wride (AstroCymru) gave an inspirational plenary address at INTERACT22. She says 'Raising aspirations and providing essential resources to pupils exposed to child poverty is fundamental in breaking the cycle of multiple generations of non-working families.' New team members have enriched the SSA project, bringing more skills and greater diversity. We are keen to develop a 'literacy' element in our workshops with Rebecca Chuks. We welcome artist, Maria Merridon, and solar scientists, Drs Steph Yardley and Ravi Desai. We plan to continue including and training young researchers.

Our website (sunspaceart.org) provides blogs and feedback from SSA workshops, together with downloadable activity worksheets and videos (science and arts). New blogs and resources will be provided and uploaded. Further CPD sessions for teachers will be run (online and 'in person'), thus embedding the SSA project firmly in the educational landscape, building on collaborations with the Association of Science Educators, PSTT and Ogden Trust. The team are keen to run more family 'drop-in' activities at science festivals, with 'the Sun' installation (Prof Robert Walsh) and other festivals (Cheltenham, Cambridge). We are supported by individuals and organistations, which enables us to considerably extend our reach and impact.

Dr Helen Mason, Emeritus Reader in Solar Physics, is an internationally renowned solar scientist at the University of Cambridge. In 2014, she was awarded an OBE for her Services to Higher Education and to Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. In 2018, she was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society's Annie Maunder Medal for Outreach.

The SunSpaceArt team were the proud recipients of the 2020 Sir Arthur Clarke Team Award for Space Achievement in Education and Outreach. We aim to build on this success, leaving a lasting legacy of our project and our work.