This report details key findings of the 2007 The Association for Science and Discovery Centres survey, revealing that 19.5 million people visit UK Science & Discovery Centres annually, 56% of those visitors are female and that centres are widely used by teachers to support science teaching and learning.
The report explores impact measures in use across the UK and further afield and makes recommendations based on this research. It also offers three 'impact cards' for science engagement professionals to use with their school students, teachers and leisure visitors. While we have consulted widely in the preparation of this report, we would consider this to be the start of a wider consultation process amongst the many thousands of engagement professionals in the UK's science and discovery centres and museums.
This document summarises six studies published in the previous 2 years which provide evidence that science and discovery centres and museums have a considerable impact on attainment and careers in science. There are a large number of other studies available.
A response to the question posed in an earlier British Science Association blog post, when Professor Louise Archer asked 'What influences participation in science and mathematics?". By Dr Penny Fidler and Dr Michaela Livingstone, from the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres. Originally posted on the British Science Foundation website, May 13 2013.