London Wonder is an innovative pilot programme created by Big Ideas in collaboration with The Royal Commission for the Great Exhibition of 1851. Secondary school teachers collaborating with the Royal Commission’s Science, Engineering, and Entrepreneurial Research Fellows, worked alongside Big Ideas to co-produce a bespoke STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) workshop tailored for students aged 11-18. As part of the programme, students from participating schools were invited to attend The Great Exhibition Road Festival in June 2024, where they had the unique opportunity to visit the 1851der Tent, and experience firsthand the wonders of STEM at one of the largest STEM and Arts festivals in the world.
Big Ideas worked with five participating schools, consulting closely with a group of science teachers to develop their insights into exciting workshops. This programme worked with teachers to understand their challenges in teaching STEM, and to develop new methodologies to support students in navigating their careers in the field.
The programme was well-received, with 100% of participating schools expressing interest taking part in the workshops next year, thereby contributing to the transformation of the educational landscape in East London.
Royal Commission Fellows ran workshops at the participating schools, consisting of:
- Designing and pitching a new invention that resolved a social issue
- Understanding cancer cells and learning about how antibodies and drugs help to eradicate cancer cells from the body, without damaging healthy cells
- Understanding the physics behind magnetic levitating trains and having a go at making one of their own
“It was a really intriguing and fascinating session that provided a lot of thinking into what I might consider in the future. Thank you very much for this session” Secondary School Student
Our London Wonder programme enabled a collaboration and exchange of knowledge between Fellows, Teachers and Students, to deliver effective STEM school workshops. Strong relationships were built with participating schools, earning their trust and creating an environment where they could openly share their challenges and vulnerabilities. Fellows of the global majority led workshops in schools emphasising to students that STEM is accessible to everyone, regardless of background.
“That activity was engaging and utilised easily accessible materials, so we will definitely be trying it when next we teach the magnetism module.” Teacher
