UK National Commission for UNESCO patronage for Great Science Share for Schools
13 Mar 2024
The Great Science Share for Schools granted patronage of the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO in 2024
The Great Science Share for Schools (GSSfS) is dedicated to fostering scientific curiosity and education among young learners through a campaign for everyone to involve and inspire young people from 5-14 years in asking, investigating and sharing scientific questions they care about.
First launched as part of the European City of Science in 2016, the campaign is centred around an annual programme of activity culminating in a large scale sharing event on the second week of June each year.
Patronage granted by the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) serves as a hallmark of quality, acknowledging an event's contribution in advancing UNESCO's mission in promoting education, scientific research, and cultural understanding. As a UKNC-patronised event, GSSfS will continue to uphold the highest standards of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity in science education.
The event has reached over 500,000 young people across 33 countries to spark curiosity about the world around us. Through teacher professional development, tailored resources aligned to global issues and engaging events, the campaign has, nurtured creativity, and inspired a lifelong passion for discovery in young people across the globe.
"We are deeply honoured this year to receive the esteemed patronage from the UK National Commission for UNESCO," said Professor Lynne Bianchi, Director of the Science and Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH).
"This endorsement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in making this initiative a resounding success. I hope that every supporter and participant will acknowledge that this has only been achieved through authentic collaboration across the sector. With UNESCO's support, we are poised to expand our reach, amplify our impact, and inspire even more young learners to embrace the transformative power of asking scientific questions."
Julian Skyrme, Director of Social Responsibility, added "The University of Manchester is already a world-leader in social responsibility and sustainable development. This prestigious partnership with UNESCO will help even more young people around the world see science as a force for good in the world."
James Bridge, Chief Executive and Secretary General, United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC), said: "We are delighted to grant the UK National Commission for UNESCO Patronage to the Great Science Share for Schools campaign in 2024. Education, Science, and Communication and Information are three fundamental pillars of UNESCO’s global work, so it is great that the UK National Commission can support an initiative here in the UK that brings these together in such an imaginative and collaborative way.
"By engaging and encouraging children to choose a scientific question that they personally care about, and then gather and share their evidence to 'solve' that question, is a wonderful mechanism to develop enquiring minds."
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