Great Science Share for Schools (GSSfS), led by the University’s Science & Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH) continues to make a powerful and lasting impact by inspiring young people to become curious, confident young scientists.

The initiative encourages school pupils aged 5-14 to ask, investigate and share the scientific questions that matter to them. In doing so, it helps to build scientific literacy, creativity and a sense of agency from an early age, empowering children to see themselves as active participants in science.

Its reach and inclusivity are among its greatest strengths and Great Science Share for Schools continues to build global momentum. In 2025 alone, more than 845,000 young people from over 4300 schools in 52 countries took part, with around 50% of participants located in areas of high socio-economic deprivation. This reflects the initiative’s position as a worldwide leader in child-centred science engagement and its strong commitment to widening access and ensuring science is accessible to all, regardless of background.

We continue to play a central role in this growth. In 2025, during the programme’s 10^th anniversary year, we welcomed over 35 schools from across Greater Manchester onto campus for hands‑on science activities that connected children directly with our colleagues, facilities and scientific community.

With the campaign having received patronage of the UK National Commission for UNESCO in 2024, 2025 and 2026, focus is now on the global growth of GSSfS. With its inclusive, non-competitive and collaborative approach, the format is easily translatable to  5–14-year-olds across the globe to ask a scientific question, investigating it and sharing it in various means of communication.

Great Science Share for Schools provides opportunities for university academics and research to feature in the campaign through the resources produced each year. The campaign has also worked closely with Manchester Museum staff and Creative Manchester.

The impact of Great Science Share for Schools over the past decade was recently recognised in a feature in the Manchester Evening News, which highlighted the programme’s Manchester roots, its global influence and its success in empowering hundreds of thousands of children to explore the world around them. By nurturing curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of science, the initiative continues to demonstrate the power of meaningful engagement with young learners.

Professor Lynne Bianchi, the founder of GSSfS and Vice-Dean SREDIA in FSE, states: “It’s a really simple concept. It’s about getting young people to ask, investigate and share a scientific question that matters to them. This campaign is a way for us to raise the profile of primary science and to say it is essential for young people to have a voice.’’

• Further information can be found here on the Great Science Share website.
• Please contact us if you are interested in collaborating on the campaign.
• See the full article in the Manchester Evening News