ASiP Newsletter: Volume 1

4 Abingdon School in Partnership Abingdon School in Partnership Primary Science Club Royal Society Wildlife Project Secondary research projects Abingdon Science Partnership Community and collaboration are at the heart of Abingdon Science Partnership (ASP) events, whether they be primary school science workshops or student-led research projects working with partners in universities and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) organisations. Challenge is certainly there too, whether for primary pupils working in a science lab for the first time or for sixth formers grappling with techniques they wouldn’t usually encounter until university level. All our activities also rely on the importance of these three values within the school, as far less would be possible without the constant support and enthusiasm of over a dozen science teaching staff and our essential team of science technicians. And, of course, there is our growing team of Science Ambassadors, pupils here and at other schools who volunteer their time and skills to help run everything from Primary Science Club to Science Oxford’s Saturday Science Clubs and our increasingly successful Science Factor Research Clubs. A shining example of all these factors working together is our recent success in gaining a Royal Society Partnership Grant to fund a project involving six local schools, the University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and community organisations such as Science Oxford. The opportunity for primary and secondary pupils to work together on this project, guided by our science partner and to present their project to Fellows of the Royal Society at their headquarters in London is truly inspirational for all involved. However, the daily inspiration provided by working on partnership projects cannot be underestimated either. The pride of every primary child that gains their CREST science investigator award or the delight of being allowed to light a Bunsen burner for the first time are the smaller, but important things that will encourage and inspire these children to be interested in science and to change their conceptions of science, scientists and opportunities for their futures. ~ Jeremy Thomas 5