The University of Southampton

Outreach and public engagement

Physics and Astronomy at the University of Southampton values the key role that primary and secondary schools have in motivating and enabling their students to pursue higher education. We are keen to help science teachers inspire their students and are committed to delivering a wide-ranging outreach program. Explore the appropriate Key Stage activities to see how we can support you and your students.

Our aim is to encourage more students to study physics at A-level and beyond. The University of Southampton is part of SEPnet, the South-East Physics Network, which enables us to do more promotion of Physics throughout the region and offer support to those teaching Physics in the South East.  

We have a major responsibility to contribute to society through public engagement, and we have much to gain in return. We are committed to sharing our knowledge, resources and skills with the public, and to listening to and learning from the expertise and insight of the different communities with which we engage. We are committed to developing our approach to managing, supporting and delivering public engagement for the benefit of staff, students and the public, and to sharing what we learn about effective practice.

The successful Photonics4All EU funded outreach project – which was designed to inform young people, the general public and businesses about the benefits of Photonics - has now ended.  The project promoted the use of light and lasers in festivals throughout Europe and created Apps, videos and business resources to make freely available to schools and members of the public. These resources can now be found at http://photonics4all.eu/

In December 2016 we began another EU funded Photonics outreach projected entitled: PHABLABS 4:0 linking Photonics specialists with community makers labs to encourage the creative use of photonics.  Please take a look at the project which can now be found at:  http://www.phablabs.eu/

Teachers with students arranging blow up planets

General Support for Teachers.

Resources, 'Ask the Experts', Freebies and information about Work Experience for your students

General Support for Teachers.
Young boy looking through telescope

Key Stage 1 & 2

Find out about 'Light Wave': - hands-on optics experiments for Primary school children and our amazing Astronomy talks about Aliens using the inflatable planets.

Key Stage 1 & 2
Key stage 3 learning about planets

Key Stage 3

Find out about our Summer Schools for Year 8 students and Extra Solar Planets talk.

Key Stage 3
Jo Barzycki MPhys student

Key Stage 4

Summer Schools, The Light Express Roadshow, The Mobile Planetarium, and Speakers for Schools.

Key Stage 4
Outreach AS/A Level The Particle Physics Masterclass

AS/A Level

AS/A Level: - free ebooks, posters, CD-ROMs and the travelling laser light show.

AS/A Level
The light express - experiment

The Light Express Road Show

This free laser roadshow contains demonstrations and activities featuring the physics of light and the science behind the Internet.

The Light Express Road Show
Mobile planetarium

The Mobile Planetarium / Soton Astrodome

Free interactive planetarium shows about planets, stars, galaxies and black holes, presented by astronomers for Primary to A–level ages.

The Mobile Planetarium / Soton Astrodome
Outreach science experiment

Talks for the General Public/Astronomy Societies

alks on the Lofar telescope, Astronomy research including X-rays and Jets and holography demonstrations.

Talks for the General Public/Astronomy Societies