Benefits of membership

What are the benefits to you and your staff?

Our mission is to bring together our membership to play a strategic role in the nation’s engagement with science. 

Lobbying and Advocacy

ASDC works with government departments, MPs and national and public organisations to champion inspirational science learning, raise the profile of our members and increase the strategic role our members play in the nation’s engagement with science. 

Fostering knowledge exchange across the UK

ASDC facilitates the sharing of knowledge, skills, ideas and best practice between thousands of professionals working in science engagement organisations across the UK. Our members have access to specialist groups and channels of communication that connect the UK Science and Discovery Centre Network. We support and encourage greater communication and collaboration between centres, providing our members with a platform to share ideas, programmes, resources, procedural documents and reports. ASDC members have the opportunity to nominate a member of their staff to become a National Network Ambassador.

Collaborative national strategic projects with our members

ASDC seek funds and partnerships to create and develop inspirational, national, strategic science engagement programmes that promote the latest science, technology, innovation and research across our UK membership. Members are invited to participate in these national skills and training projects which include the Hypatia Project on gender balance in STEM, as well as content specific projects such as Operation Earth and the Secret World of Gases.

Conferences and events

ASDC hold an annual national conference that attracts leaders from UK science and discovery centres, museums, industry, government, research councils, universities and the media. Additional conferences, national meetings and training sessions are held in partnership with our members throughout the year. Specific topics range from 

• Business excellence
• Marketing
• Environmental sustainability
• Diversity and social inclusion
• Educational approaches and techniques
  

Our members also have the opportunity to represent their organisations as a contributor to an ASDC focus group, networking with like-minded individuals between centres. Current ASDC focus groups include marketing, education, environmental sustainability and diversity and social inclusion.

Funding, PR and other opportunities

ASDC creates national PR and publicity opportunities for members. We speak with national funders and alert members to the latest funding opportunities and disseminate opportunities for collaborative possibilities such as travelling exhibitions.

Advice, support and a central point of contact

ASDC acts as the central point of contact for the sector sharing the latest news and opportunities. We also offer advice on collaborative funding applications and provide introductions to others in the field. We work closely with Science and Discovery Centres across Europe and worldwide, and we are happy to advise and introduce our members.