Scientists In Schools Workshop

25 Feb 2026

Yesterday was our Scientists in Schools workshop! OSSCE members had the chance to learn from an expert how best to share their work with younger generations. Here’s what Anthony Limburg, our Member Lead Officer, had to say.

“This week, we were fortunate to host Sean Elias, Public Engagement and Research Lead at the Pandemic Sciences Institute, for a workshop on how to engage children with science effectively.

Sean placed particular emphasis on the power of props, discovery, and strong visuals in bringing science to life. Physical objects and demonstration materials create an immediate focal point and invite participation. When children can hold, manipulate, or experiment with something tangible, the experience shifts from passive listening to active exploration. He encouraged creating moments of guided discovery, where the outcome is not announced in advance but uncovered together through observation and questioning.

We were invited to design our own workshops which, with the help of the Scientists in Schools charity, can in the future be carried out at primary and secondary schools around Oxford.

Fittingly, Sean’s workshop on how to captivate children turned out to be just as captivating for a room full of academics. Which, depending on your perspective, either speaks to his exceptional skill, or suggests we are not that different from the children we aim to inspire.”