Science Ceilidh

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Science Ceilidh

The Science Ceilidh is an award-winning educational organisation bringing people together with science and traditional music and arts.

We support cultural & knowledge democracy in Scotland through our Community Knowledge Matters network for community-led research, Curiosity In Action for interdisciplinary youthwork & the Culture & Wellbeing Community Network Scotland Our community programmes empowers participants from across Scotland - from exploring gaelic bilingualism & health, memory & music or creativity & wellbeing with rura

l communities across Scotland, New Scots in Edinburgh, young people with additional support needs, disadvantaged youth groups with our Curiosity Club and a long-term science residency with Leith Labs, to participate and share arts, science and culture together. Our education programme has inspired over 12,000 pupils in both primary and high schools, along with supporting teachers, to explore the cutting-edge interdisciplinary science behind music, creativity and learning and actively breaking stereotypes about Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths alongside Arts careers. As a band, we've had over 16,000 dancers up and moving at festivals, events and conferences all around the world - from simulating your immune system with the Dashing White Blood Cell to swinging your partner DNA base-pairs in the Orcadian-Strip-the-Helix or learning about light in the Fluorescence Fling - partnering with researchers to communicate their work in creative & accessible ways. We’re passionate about working with those who traditionally do not participate in science through barriers, lack of provision or starting conversations with those outwith the converted based on a relationship-focused approach, honest partnership working for sustainability and generous leadership to share our learnings, reflections and resources for wider impact.

18/08/2026

What have we learnt about the value of STEM in youth work?

Our Curiosity in Action Final Impact Report is out! 🎉

Over two years of action research, we worked with seven youth groups across Scotland and fourteen researchers to explore what happens when STEM becomes part of youth work, and we learnt a lot along the way.

One of the things we saw was how these experiences could change the way young people saw themselves and what they felt was possible.

One youth worker described how the boys in their group initially gravitated towards space topics while the girls held back. That began to change when female researcher Sophie joined the sessions:

“I think having Sophie really helped to cut through that and let them see ‘we can do that’.”

We also saw how exploring science in a youth work setting gave young people space to be curious, try something new, make mistakes and discover that something not working wasn't a reason to stop exploring.

As another youth worker put it, “It creates a space that benefits young people now, not just somewhere down the line.”

Our Final Impact Report brings together what we learnt across the two years, including the challenges and impact we saw along the way.

Download the report and our free Curiosity in Action Toolkit here:
scienceceilidh.typeform.com/curiosity

YouthLink Scotland
Science and Technology Facilities Council
UK Research and Innovation

14/08/2026

We asked the youth workers who took part in our Curiosity in Action programme what changed when STEM entered their sessions. Swipe to hear it in their words!

Curiosity in Action was our two-year programme pairing youth groups across Scotland with researchers to explore STEM together.

Our toolkit inspired by the programme brings together everything those partnerships learned, including how to set up a partnership, session templates, activity ideas and fun evaluation methods. The toolkit is free to use, with an interactive online version, and a printable pdf.

Find out more, and get your copy today: scienceceilidh.typeform.com/curiosity

Funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, with support from YouthLink Scotland.

Multi-Cultural Family Base
Eat, Sleep, Ride
Think Circus

07/08/2026

No Saturday plans yet? Not to worry! We've found an event that's definitely worth a look, organised by our partners Fun Palaces.

Join Fun Palaces Scotland and Radical Glasgow Tours tomorrow morning for a walking tour through Glasgow’s radical histories and everyday cultures.

Fun Palaces starts from the idea that culture is what people make it. Each year, people across the UK create free local events like this, with others in their communities, sharing what they know, love and care about, building collective action and making things happen for themselves.

This collaboration explores how Glasgow has been shaped in exactly this way: by people organising, resisting, learning, caring and creating change together.

The tour explores some of the people and movements that have shaped the city with campaigns for change.

Get your tickets via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whose-city-our-city-tickets-1993781533237

05/08/2026

Here’s a photo highlight from a recent trip north to visit the team at Space 2 Be, Lochaber!

Space 2 Be is leading the way in using community-led research to shape sustainable, nature-connected opportunities for children, young people and families across Lochaber including with the local schools, young peer researchers and NHS practitioners. They encourage local children and young people to access the outdoors to support their health and wellbeing.

Our Director Lewis travelled to Lochaber with Kirsty from The Ideas Fund, and shared his thoughts on the visit here:

“It was fantastic to spend time with the team and the young people, seeing first-hand the relationships that have been built and the impact the programme is having since our first visit to the farm many years ago. The passion of the team here - including the young people who have now become peer researchers - are such an important reminder of what community-led research can achieve when it's rooted in local knowledge and lived experience, and working closely in partnership with schools and the Highland Health Service as well.”

We're excited to see how the programme continues to grow to support local young people to have “space 2 be”.

You can hear more about the programme in their spotlight at our last Gathering here:
communityknowledgematters.com/recordings-community-spotlights

British Science Association NHS Highland The Highland Council Lochaber High
Ardnamurchan High School Thriving Families Lochaber Hope Ewen's Room

02/08/2026

Looking to connect with others passionate about community-led research in rural and island Scotland?

We have some opportunities to get involved with our Community Knowledge Matters network coming up over the next few months.

Have a look at the key dates below and sign up to our mailing list to stay up to date with network news and opportunities.

www.communityknowledgematters.com

31/07/2026

“It brings out sides of the young people that you never see if you don’t try this approach. It creates a creative space and experiences that could benefit them in the future, but also benefits them in the present by unlocking creative sides they have and are not necessarily aware of.” - Diline, youth worker

Diline was one of the youth workers involved in Curiosity in Action, our two-year programme pairing youth groups across Scotland with researchers to explore STEM together.

Last week, we launched the Curiosity in Action Toolkit, bringing together everything those partnerships learned along the way, showing how researchers and youth workers can work together to create engaging, youth-led STEM experiences.

Take a look to find session templates, activity ideas and evaluation methods that feel like play rather than paperwork. It's free to use and adapt, with editable Canva templates and a printable version.

https://scienceceilidh.typeform.com/curiosity

Funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, with support from YouthLink Scotland.

Multi-Cultural Family Base
Eat, Sleep, Ride
Think Circus

24/07/2026

What happens when a youth group and a researcher work together over two years?

That was Curiosity in Action. Seven youth groups across Scotland, from Thurso to Lamberton, each paired with a researcher. They built and trialled STEM activities together with young people, then reflected on what worked, session after session.

Today, we are excited to announce that the Curiosity in Action Toolkit is live!

It's everything we wished existed when we started. How to find a partner and what to agree before you begin, session planning templates. activities that hold a room (including marshmallow constellations and edible DNA). Plus, evaluation methods young people actually enjoy, like a feedback garden or a washing line of what went well and what flopped.

If you are curious about introducing STEM activities into your youth work but aren't sure where to start, or you're a researcher wondering how to work meaningfully with a youth group, this is for you.

Free to use and adapt, with editable Canva templates plus a printable version.
https://scienceceilidh.typeform.com/curiosity

Funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, with support from YouthLink Scotland.

Multi-Cultural Family Base
Eat, Sleep, Ride
Think Circus

16/07/2026

This week marked , celebrating the importance of equipping young people with the skills they need to thrive. 🌍

At Science Ceilidh, we've seen first-hand how exploring STEM through youth work can build confidence, communication, teamwork and problem-solving, while creating meaningful opportunities for young people to shape their own learning.

If you're a CLD practitioner, youth worker, science educator, researcher or are simply interested in how STEM can support CLD outcomes in young people, we'd love to welcome you to our Curiosity in Communities Community of Practice on Tuesday 8th September.

Together we'll explore the Curiosity in Action Toolkit and Final Impact Report, hear from others working across the sector and share ideas, resources and practical approaches for embedding STEM in youth work.

Book your place via Eventbrite:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/curiosity-in-communities-community-of-practice-september-2026-tickets-1993548327713?aff=oddtdtcreator

14/07/2026

How can those in science engagement get involved in community engagement?

Join our session at this year's BIG Event this Thursday 16 July alongside Fiona Travers from the Royal Observatory Edinburgh Science and Technology Facilities Council on “Community Engagement - Stories, Toolkits and Map”

The workshop at the National STEM Learning Centre will share real-world examples, practical resources you can put into action straight away, and simple tools to help build more meaningful and equitable community engagement, including our new toolkit exploring how STEM can be embedded in youthwork as part of the Curiosity In Action programme, funded by STFC with support from YouthLink Scotland.

This photo captures one of the many brilliant moments from our Curiosity in Action programme, where young people from Multi-Cultural Family Base explored space science with Clara and Alison from the Royal Observatory Edinburgh.

If you're attending the BIG Event, we'd love to see you there. Check out the full programme here: www.big.uk.com/BIGEvent2026

BIG STEM Network
STEM Learning

11/07/2026

⏰ Last chance!

The Community Knowledge Matters Members Survey closes tomorrow (Sunday 12th July).

If you've attended an event, used our resources, joined a discussion or even just receive our newsletter, we'd love to hear from you.

Your feedback will help shape the future of the network. Complete the survey for the chance to win one of three £30 gift cards.

Take part here: tinyurl.com/ckmsurvey2026

Address

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EH91PL

Telephone

+447813743662

Website

http://www.scienceceilidh.com/

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