Following discussions with the Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), Steve Witherden MP secured a Westminster Hall debate on 14th January 2026 to discuss the impact of Science and Discovery Centres (SDCs) on national science and technology priorities. The MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr delivered a passionate speech calling on the Government to secure a home for SDCs under the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. This call was backed by over a dozen MPs from across the political spectrum.
Over the last 25 years, the Public Attitudes to Science (PAS) survey has provided data on what people think about science, scientists and science policy, and how informed and engaged…
The Next Gen Earth programme, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation, launched in August 2025 across nine ASDC member organisations. The programme engages…
The Demystifying AI programme has been created by ASDC to support young people, families, schools and communities to understand AI in everyday life, careers and skills development in AI, and to platform regional diversity through both in person and online engagements. This national STEM engagement project, run by 15 of the UK’s science centres and museums aims to break down some of the complex ideas and technologies behind AI into meaningful, interactive experiences that share the UK’s world-leading AI research and innovation with over 70,000 people over three months.
The Association for Science and Discovery Centres campaign Science Centres For Our Future secures Westminster Hall debate to discuss the future of the UK’s science and discovery centres, taking place at 2.30pm - 4pm on Wednesday 14th January, 2026.
On 25th November, as part of the Science Centres for Our Future campaign, ASDC delivered an open letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, and Science Minister Lord Vallance.
The ASDC project team has awarded grants to 15 members in a second phase of the Our World From Space programme, to engage new audiences with an understanding of space science’s role in our everyday lives and for the future health and sustainability of our planet.
Last week, ASDC submitted a ‘Budget Representation’ to HM Treasury calling for a fairer funding settlement for science and discovery centres. The UK-wide network of science and discovery centres is…
On the 9 and 10th of September at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, ASDC celebrated 25 years of national impact with many of the 'millennium science centres' celebrating 25th anniversaries in 2025. Delegates joined powerful conversations that ask the big questions: What must we change? What should we protect? What do future audiences need from us? With many opportunities to meet peers, pioneers and change-makers from around the UK to share ideas and scale impact for the immediate future, over the next 5 years - and looking ahead to 2050.
On Thursday 4th September 2025, Science leaders, MPs, and policy-makers gathered in the House of Commons to champion the UK’s network of science and discovery centres and to issue a clear warning: without urgent government support, the country risks losing one of its most powerful drivers of skills, inclusion, and scientific literacy.
