Science Summer School NI

Activate your Curiosity

Welcome to Science Summer School NI, a dynamic and inspiring STEAM initiative hosted in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Co-founded by Professor Brian Cox CBE and Lord Andrew Mawson OBE, this event forms part of a growing network of Science Summer Schools across the UK, aiming to "make the UK the best place to do science."

Explore our 2024 programme here and watch the film.

About the Event

Held at The Braid Civic Centre in Ballymena, Science Summer School NI combines inspirational talks, hands-on workshops, and engaging competitions to ignite curiosity and showcase the exciting opportunities within Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths (STEAM).

The 2024 theme was "Activate Your Curiosity: Making Sense of Science", bringing together hundreds of students, teachers, STEAM professionals, and businesses for a full day of learning and exploration.

Practical Workshops

Students participated in a range of hands-on experiences including:

  • The Brush Monster Challenge

    Building a working Brush Caterpillar

  • Deep Racer

    Compete in an AI-powered race with AWS

  • The Art of Air

    Explore cement-based renders through touch and experimentation

  • Science in the Cinema

    Discover the science behind special effects

  • Portable Planetarium

    Journey through space with Armagh Observatory

  • Electric Power at Your Fingertips

    Build and test electrical generators

Meet the Inspiration Behind the Event

Students heard directly from world-class scientists and inventors, including:

  • Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS

    One of the UK’s most prominent science communicators, bringing the wonders of the universe to life.

  • Dr Simon Doherty

    Senior Lecturer, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast

  • Dr Erin Higgins

    Astrophysicist at Armagh Observatory & Planetarium

  • Richard Furey

    Managing Director, Yelo Ltd

  • Dr Andrew McIntosh

    Head of R&D, Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd

  • Daniel Kraska

    Engineering Supervisor, Ryobi

  • Ciaran Maxwell

    Low Carbon & Renewable Energy Engineer, Ryobi

  • Vince Rosales

    QUB Midwifery Graduate, Queen’s University Belfast

  • Fiona Simpson

    Head of Commercial NI, Amazon Web Services

  • Suzanne Leslie

    Principal Partner Sales Manager, AWS

  • David Surplus

    Managing Director, B9 Energy Storage

Competitions & School Engagement

To keep students inspired year-round, Science Summer School NI runs:

  • Sustainable Futures Competition: Design a sustainable, low-carbon model using household materials

  • Activate Your Curiosity Writing Challenge: Share your STEAM dreams and career aspirations

  • Cosmic Classroom Competition: Illustrate superpowers to combat climate change

Winning students receive exciting prizes like event tickets and special recognition from the Mayor of Mid and East Antrim.

Explore previous years

2024