Photonics for the next generation

The Hub’s outreach programme engages with schools and the public to raise awareness of our research, highlight the far-reaching impact of photonics on daily life and promote opportunities to study and pursue careers in physics. A key aim of the programme is to reach underserved audiences, including working with ‘Widening Participation’ (WP) schools and encouraging greater gender equality in the science and technology fields.

Our 2018 outreach activities have reached over 6,100 students, teachers and members of the public. Major events have included the Lightwave Roadshow with hands-on optics activities, the Light Express Roadshow incorporating a laser light show, Photonics Explorer teachers workshops accompanied by free kits to use in the classroom, and an EU-funded project linking universities and community ‘makers’ workshops (PHABLABS 4:0).

To date, we have worked with:

n Over 17,000 school pupils, college students, teachers and members of the public n Over 90 schools n Delivered over 75 events in partnership with eight different organisations.

By working in partnership with organisations such as the Cheltenham Science Festival, we have reached 1,000 more of our target audience than planned, including large numbers of parents, members of the general public and GCSE and A-Level students and teachers.

“...the afternoon was brilliant and certainly inspired many of our students, the questions from the students continued into the following week and has generated some excellent science.”

Head Teacher, Applemore College.