2015 saw the start of the new vision for the British Science Association. We have established a new mission and put much of that plan into motion already.

Our mission is to support, grow and diversify the community of people who are interested and involved in science; and to strengthen their influence over science’s direction and place in society.

Some highlights from 2015

The refreshed and refocussed British Science Festival took place in Bradford with a programme that celebrated cutting edge research and the intersection between science and society.

The start of a hugely successful new programme, Future Debates, giving people the opportunity to debate and discuss the impact of how advancing new technologies and research will affect their lives.

The early development of a new digital platform that will allow educators to register their students for the CREST Awards and search resources and ideas to help them support their students’ hands-on practical science investigations.

Twitter followers on all BSA accounts

Likes on BSA Facebook channels

subscribers on LinkedIn

views of BSA YouTube videos

Our Education team delivers a range of inspirational projects designed to help young people feel more comfortable and confident with science. We work closely with teachers from all backgrounds, as well as other education specialists, organisations and youth groups to foster a generation of young people that actively engage with science in their lives, and don’t see it as ‘just’ a school subject.

British Science Week

A ten-day programme of grassroots activities and events, British Science Week is the largest national celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths for people of all ages.

With thousands of events happening nationwide, our education team work closely with teachers across the UK to provide them with ideas, quizzes, activities and demonstrations to bring their classrooms alive with science during the Week.

56,000

young people participate in
competitions and other activities

Making Science Real
in Schools

Working with the British Council, the Education team are the UK partner in the Making Science Real in Schools (MARCH) European education project. Bringing together nine partners from seven countries, the project allows educationalists from across Europe to collaborate and share ideas to better inform best practise for all. In 2016, we will be hosting a major conference here in the UK for all of the international partners.

Our Engagement team is responsible for the expansion and growth of the BSA’s public-facing programmes and events. We produce a range of national and regional activities – working alongside our group of dedicated volunteers, local partners and supporters – that aim to grow and diversify the community of people who are interested in and involved with science.

British Science Week

Our Engagement team produces the national and public-focused programme for the Week, including citizen science partnerships and collaborations with organisations from across different sectors.

We successfully piloted a grant scheme for community groups, which allowed us to fund and support local groups to put on activities.

In 2016, we are looking forward to expanding the scheme so that we can reach even more people.

We worked with

50

community organisations

including The Africa Caribbean Parents' Forum, Muslim Women Centres and a number of coding clubs for girls

New programmes

2015 saw the advent of several new programmes, including Future Debates, and Science in the City – a collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry and the UK Science Festivals Network.

We also piloted Problem Attic, a new type of event where researchers talk to the audience about an area of their work that they feel needs new ideas and fresh thinking.

British Science Festival

As Europe’s longest-standing national science event, the British Science Festival has a long history of bringing the world’s leading academics to a different city in the UK each year.

In 2015, the British Science Festival went under a refresh. This new approach to the Festival came out of the BSA’s new vision: to position science at the heart of our culture and society. We wanted to celebrate the importance and societal impact of science and to encourage more people to engage with and enjoy science.

The Cultural Development team’s work includes research, policy, campaigns, and thought leadership, as well as activities for professional audiences such as science communication and public engagement professionals. The team works with business leaders, opinion formers, policy makers and commentators across different sectors of industry and public life from business to the arts.

In 2015

we placed 11 scientists and engineers

within media organisations

Science Communication

The 2015 conference, held in Manchester, was an extremely successful event, with approx. 400 delegates. The Conference brought together delegates from a range of backgrounds and experience levels to debate and discuss best practice in science communication.

of the delegates agreed that the Conference had exceeded or met their expectations

In 2016, we will be developing a range of events, training and networking opportunities for science communication professionals at different stages for their careers to better reflect the needs of the community.

Dr Alasdair Allan MSP
Scottish National Party

Rt Hon Greg Clark
Conservative Party

Dr Hon Liam Byrne
Labour Party

James Abbott
Green Party

Dr Julian Huppert
Liberal Democrats

Hywel Williams
Plaid Cymru

Summarised Financial Statements

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMEBER 2015

Reporting on summarised financial statements

The financial information above is extracted from the Trustees' report and annual accounts 2015 which has been audited by Mazars who gave an unqualified audit opinion. The auditors have confirmed to the Trustees that these summarised financial statements are consistent with the full financial statements contained in the Trustees' report and annual accounts 2015. The Trustees' report and annual accounts 2015 was approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 30 June 2016. The Trustees' report and annual accounts 2015 will subsequently be submitted to the Charity Commission and the Registrar of Companies. These summarised financial statements, correct at the time of publishing, may not container sufficient information to gain a complete understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. The Trustees' report and annual accounts 2015 may be downloaded from www.britishscienceassociation.org