National Scientific Thinking Challenge 2024
Discover how we’re helping year 10 students to think like a scientist, and the simple way you can help us to reach more schools.
The National Scientific Thinking Challenge was created in 2021, mid-pandemic, by a group of people from universities across the UK passionate about school outreach work, including Nick Barker from Social Inclusion.
Nick Barker: “The original idea was formed during lockdown. We felt it was really important that school students had something fun and enjoyable to take part in and focus their attention on.”
We caught up with Nick to find out how, three years on, the challenge continues to benefit school students and how we can help spread the word to get more schools involved.
What is the National Scientific Thinking Challenge?
“The yearly challenge welcomes year 10 students from schools anywhere in the UK to take part online, to demonstrate their deep-thinking skills in STEM related contexts.
It gives them the chance to show the world and themselves how clever they are and how well they can think like a scientist. It is free and the technology is kept simple - no cost needs to be passed on to parents and it can even be done from a mobile phone if necessary.”
What do you hope the challenge will achieve?
“We want to enable young people, no matter what background they are from, to grow up knowing that, if it is right for them, aspiring to have a graduate career (such as a research scientist) is perfectly attainable. The challenge helps instil this belief, by helping them realise their capabilities and discover skills they often didn't know they had. Teachers tell us that many of the students that take part in the challenge come away from it feeling more motivated and confident in their abilities.”
How can we spread the word?
With your help, we’d like to get the challenge shared as far and wide as possible so that we can reach as many students as we can. You can support by letting people know about the challenge on School WhatsApp groups, Facebook, Twitter, or simply contacting those who teach.
Applications are now open and the deadline is Friday 5 April at 5pm. You can find out more on our National Scientific Thinking Challenge Link opens in a new windowwebpage, and by checking out the Frequently Asked QuestionsLink opens in a new window.
Learn more about Nick Barker’s work
Nick Barker is a Schools Outreach Fellow in Residence and is a Warwick Wow award winner. Find out more about Nick’s brilliant work at a primary school serving an area of severe social deprivation.