The British Science Association (BSA) is delighted to announce Government support for a new digital platform to support its CREST Awards scheme. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) has agreed a grant of £270,000 to develop Digital CREST, a new digital platform to enable more young people to participate in its CREST Awards scheme.
CREST Awards, the UK’s largest national award scheme for project work in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects, enrich students' interest in STEM subjects and careers.
The BSA wants more young people to benefit from doing CREST in their schools, youth clubs and homes. Over 30,000 11 to 18-year-olds achieve CREST Awards every year, 51% of whom are girls - and the BSA intends to grow this to over 60,000 over the next two years.
Removing barriers to access
The digital platform will help to remove barriers to access for schools not currently involved in the programme, especially students and teachers in disadvantaged and remote areas.
It will provide a streamlined way for teachers and students to sign up and receive guidance on the CREST Awards process and enable more volunteers from academia and industry to help young people with their CREST projects.
Universities & Science Minister Jo Johnson said: “By recognising the hard work of pupils and teachers the CREST Awards are helping inspire young people to follow a career in STEM. Our investment in this new digital platform for the awards will recognise the hard work of pupils and teachers across the whole of the country and help secure the UK’s position as a world leader in science and innovation.”
Imran Khan, Chief Executive of the BSA, said: "We are extremely grateful to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills for awarding us this grant that will enable us to transform the CREST Awards programme and expand its reach. The BSA wants all young people to have the chance to experience the excitement and creativity of science in a context that fits their own identity and interests, and - through its student-led approach - CREST provides that."