Physics Research in Schools

Researchers from our centre made their space science, astronomy, and particle physics research more accessible to students by transforming it into 6-month research projects as part of a collaborative engagement program named Physics Research in School Environments (PRiSE). The programme provided mentorship and guidance to a diverse group of 1,300 mostly A-level students from 67 schools, facilitated by 88 teachers. As a result, 96% of students reported increased confidence, and, three years later, 93% were pursuing STEM subjects in higher education, with 50% undertaking a physics degree (compared to national rates of 59% and 10% of A-level Physics students, respectively).

Based on the success of PRiSE, the South East Physics Network (SEPnet), a leading UK outreach network, adapted their public engagement strategy, and seven academic institutions internationally have adopted the program’s novel outreach model. By engaging with real and ongoing research, students developed valuable research skills, and teachers developed their professional skills and practice, reporting increased knowledge and capabilities, new lesson content, and increased confidence. Seventy percent of schools returned for multiple years after completing the initial project, reflecting the longer-term impacts of PRiSE on understanding, learning, and participation at both individual and school-wide scales.