Binding Blocks UK: A National, Inclusive Programme for Nuclear Physics Education

The Binding Blocks project aims to enthuse and engage the public and young people with cutting-edge Nuclear Physics research. Following the successful implementation of a Key Stage 5 Nuclear Physics Masterclass programme, this new project, 'Binding Blocks UK: A National, Inclusive Programme for Nuclear Physics Education' aims to expand the provision of educational resources to encompass the full secondary school age range, and to work in collaboration with partner institutions to offer a national programme.

The project will run over two years and will enable the development of new curriculum-linked resources targeted at GCSE and Key Stage 3 physics students. A hybrid model combining online and face-to-face events and activities will enable a suitable delivery mode, with or without the Covid-19 restrictions we have seen in 2020 and 2021.

Resources will be developed and the material delivered in collaboration with partner organisations, including both universities across the UK and STFC laboratories (see letters of reference). This will enable not only a wide geographic reach but also the ability to tailor content to the needs and challenges of different areas and educational contexts. Content will include videos, quizzes, lab tours (in-person and virtual), live webinars and lectures, computer simulations, modelling activities and practical work, and will highlight the applications and career prospects of nuclear physics through a diverse set of role models.

The key objectives of this new programme are therefore to: 1) Engage new audiences by: (a) developing programmes for Key Stage 4 (KS4) and Key Stage 3 (KS3) physics students (and Scottish equivalents); (b) supporting the students (across all secondary school stages) who are 'most able but least likely' to attend University, and (c) creating national geographic coverage. 2) We will create a culture of engagement across the entire STFC Nuclear Physics research community, supporting personal development and capacity building for Public Engagement across the UK.

All online content will use a new platform that will mitigate the need for specialist software and will improve the accessibility of the materials to diverse audiences. A corresponding teacher training programme, with associated kit-loan scheme, will also enable the resources to be utilised in a classroom context - making the programme sustainable.

The majority of the reach of the programme will be over the last 18 months of the programme, with the first 6 months focussed (primarily) on development of new material and platforms. Within the scope of the programme, we anticipate a direct reach of approximately 15,000 students, 800 teachers and 100 influencers, and with further reach beyond the programme through teacher-led activities utilising our (open access) Isaac Physics implementation of much of the material. Based on feedback from our pilot activity, we hope that this programme will lead to improved uptake of A-level Physics, particularly among under-represented groups. With the build up of capacity across the UK through the present project, the potential reach over the years following the Nucleus Award is anticipated to be even higher. In the longer term, the Binding Blocks UK programme therefore carries the potential to have a major impact on the STFC profile amongst the next generation of both physicists and young people more broadly.