British Science Week 

Essex Science Exhibition: 13 March

Please note the below event has now passed and bookings are closed. While we wait for British Science Week 2025, take a look at our information on bespoke campus visits (below) to explore the range of activity we have on offer to support you.

Students years 11-13 are welcome on our campus for a day of activities. Our departments from the faculty of Science and Health will be on hand to deliver workshops, tasters, demonstrations, and activities related to this year’s theme of 'Time'.

We welcome bookings from school groups, individual teachers, and individual student bookers.

We are excited to offer a Taster Day Bursary for school groups attending this event!* School groups bringing 10 or more post-16 students can claim up to £150 towards their travel expenses.

*Please note, this offer is not available in conjunction with the Schools Membership travel bursary.

STEM-tacular: 11 March

STEM-tacular is an annual celebration of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) for year 9 students on the Outreach Partnerships Programme. This on-campus event will offer students the opportunity to experience a headline science show, sparking interest and imagination, followed by a bespoke STEM workshop to provide interactive opportunities that link back to the school curriculum. Students will finish the day with a STEM student panel where they have the chance to hear from students about studying STEM subjects at the University of Essex. This event is not open to bookings.

Primary Science Fun Day: 15 and 20 March 

Taking place across two weeks, year 5 and 6 pupils from local primary schools will experience the life of a scientist though participating in exciting activities in the lab and around campus. From observing microbes under the microscope to identifying different plants and animals in the field, this on-campus event aims to inspire budding researchers, experimenters, and science-lovers to understand why our environment is so important to us! Sessions will be delivered by real scientists from the School of Life Sciences with pupils even getting to wear their own mini lab coats. This event is not open to bookings.

Virtual Activity

Join us online on 14 March for a range of taster lectures from across our Science and Health faculty as part of Experience Essex Online. These will give an excellent taste of what it’s like to study sciences at Essex. For school groups and teachers, you can tune in from your classroom.

Our sessions will be recorded and made available after the event to those who sign up.

To celebrate our Women in STEM Scholarship, our Women in STEM Masterclass Series provides an opportunity for prospective students from Brazil to sample an academic taster in STEM subjects at Essex. We are running online sessions on Monday 11 March, Tuesday 12 March, and Thursday 14 March.

Bespoke campus visits

If you are unable to access our above offerings, we welcome requests for bespoke campus visits, where you can explore our Colchester campus and our STEM facilities. Your visit can include a range of talks and hands on sessions delivered to your students from across our departments of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Psychology and Sports, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science. 

Alternatively, check out our academic workshops to explore the range of support we can offer in-person and online to school groups.

Get in touch to book your campus visit or workshop.

Online pre-recorded videos

While you’re waiting for further details from us, check out our wide range of pre-recorded lectures and taster talks from across our Science and Health faculty. You can access these at your convenience during British Science Week and share with others in your classrooms, in your student bulletins and with parents. 

Smashing stereotypes in STEM workforce

We are joining the Smashing Stereotypes campaign that was launched by British Science Association to celebrate that diversity as part of British Science Week. It aims to encourage STEM workers to share their stories about what they do in their day-to-day work – to highlight the diversity of the STEM workforce, the broad range of jobs and careers available, and that scientists are just like other people.

Dr Alba Garcia, Dr Aline Villavicencio, Professor Maria Fasli, Research Student Anca Sticlaru and Research Officer Mays Al-Naday explain why they are proud to be part of the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at Essex.

Meet Philip, our previous Head of Department for the School of Life Sciences, as he chats to Ellie about how he came to get in to science from a working class background in Bolton, how he deals with anxiety, and going down to his local for a pint.

Read about our innovative research

• Bootcamps or five-a-side could save your liver and your life
• Fans of ASMR videos are more sensitive to their surroundings
• New AI- powered app could boost smartphone batteries by 30 per cent
• Check4Cancer launches skin cancer AI project with Essex researchers
• Cow tracking
• Ocean Travellers

Fun experiments to do at home

The British Science Association have created activity packs to help you get a taste of activities to run during British Science Week. Download the British Science Week activity pack (.pdf).