Purpose and vision

The Great Science Share for Schools is a campaign for everyone to involve young people from 5-14 years in asking, investigating and sharing a scientific question they care about.

It places young people at the heart of the communication of science to each other.

GSSfS is relevant to all teachers and educators working with young people, in whatever educational setting, any where across the world.

3 simple values provide the foundations to all campaign activity:

• Learner-focused science communication

• Inclusive and non-competitive engagement

• Promotes collaboration on many levels

The GSSfS concept is simple and transferable.

Young people decide on a scientific question they care about. They develop skills and knowledge to work scientifically, gathering evidence from investigations and draw conclusions. They share their learning with new audiences in a range of communication styles.

GSSfS primarily supports teachers and educators in their endeavour to raise the profile and quality of science enquiry in schools and communities.

With the young people being the communicators, this is unique way to gauge the impact of science learning and to enhance experiences in to increase agency and involvement in science enquiry.

With the status of school science in the UK lower than other core curriculum subjects. Teachers have reported that GSSfS leads to:

• more time for science learning in school and at home

• more open-ended opportunities led by young people asking, investigating and communicating their own scientific questions

• more involvement from different audiences who may not traditionally engage with science

• more focus on real-world issues aligned to global sustainability within a curriculum, mainstream context.

First launched as part of the European City of Science in 2016, the campaign grew from strong roots in SEERIH’s children-to-children’s science conferences.  Since then, the initiative has continued to grow in size, importance and overall impact at a international level. GSSfS was awarded patronage of the National Commission for UNESCO in 2024.

What impact on young people does the Great Science Share for Schools have?

Evaluation of the campaign has shown how the Great Science Share for Schools impacts on young people’s learning in science: