ASE 2025 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

The ASE is delighted to be hosting its Annual Conference, generously sponsored by AQA, at the University of Nottingham from 9th to 11th January 2025. International sessions are incorporated throughout the event for this year and we will have a great exhibition with lots of exclusive Conference offers. Post-16 focus-day and for those involved in leading and delivering professional development, the Teacher Developers’ Group programme is Thursday. Friday is the dedicated Technicians day and Early Career Teacher day. Sessions for both Primary and 11-19 are threaded throughout all 3 days with a focus on Research on Saturday.
Book your tickets now at https://ase2025AnnConf.eventbrite.co.uk - and remember, if you are an ASE member you will benefit from hugely discounted prices! Check out our membership here - it’s free for Early Career Teachers and only £25 for Technicians!

arrow_back View All Dates

08:45 GMT

Moss Safari Live: Focus on Change and Adapt

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT

Pope LT C15

Come on microscopic adventure through a microscope and learn how moss offers solutions to climate change, rotifers deal with microplastics, and how tardigrades have become urbanised.

Moss Safari is an increasingly popular activity and having featured in the BBC Live Lesson in 2024 more primary and secondary school teachers are doing Moss Safari’s as part of their curriculum or extra-curricular activities.
Get ready for your Science Week in March 2025 or primary to secondary transition activities by attending this live Moss Safari session with a focus on ‘Change and Adapt’ the British Science Association’s focus for British Science Week.

Andy (Dr Moss) will take you on a live Moss Safari and tell you the stories of how three of the Big Five have changed and adapted over geological time and are adapting (or not) to urbanisation, climate change and environmental pollution.

Delegates will enjoy a fascinating adventure exploring a sample of moss for the Big Five microscopic organisms, learn novel practical approaches to microscopy, and curriculum linked subject knowledge.

Delegates be given access to a free online resource suitable for Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 or Key Stage 4.
This event will be in collaboration with Vitta Education who provide the microscope and the Edulab Moss Safari kit.

Speakers

Andy Chandler-Grevatt

Senior Lecturer in Science Education, University of Brighton

Past ASE 11-19 Chair (2021-2022) and current Chair of Surrey and Sussex Region Curriculum Editor for Oxford University Press Smart Activate Senior Lecturer in Science Education, University of Brighton (ITE tutor) CSciTeach Talk to me about: assessment without testing, teacher... Read More →

Wendy Ford

VITTA Group Brand Manager, VITTA Education

As Brand Manager for the VITTA Group, Wendy is closely involved with the group's dynamic portfolio, which is dedicated to empowering science educators, bringing science to life, and consequently, providing support for the scientists of tomorrow.As an established marketeer, Wendy's... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 08:45 - 09:35 GMT
Pope LT C15

All

Theme Sustainability climate change & environmental issues
Key Stage / Audience Type Global, ECTs, Teacher Developers, Industry, 7 to 11, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16, Technicians
Twitter feed @MossSafari

11:15 GMT

Research Keynote: Purposeful and effective practical work in primary science

Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT

Pope LT C15

Practical work can fulfil many purposes in the primary science classroom, but which should be the focus, and how do we know if practical work has been used effectively? This research project has been funded by the Nuffield Foundation and draws upon expertise from Bath Spa University (Sarah Earle and Stuart Read) and The University of Manchester (Lynne Bianchi and Julie Jordan) to consider practical work from a uniquely primary perspective.

In this session, we will explore findings from the literature, a national stakeholder survey and teacher interviews to draw conclusions about purposeful practical work. We will share draft guidance and invite discussion about how to support effective practical work in primary science.

Speakers

Julie Jordan

Visiting Researcher University of Manchester, University of Manchester

Lynne Bianchi

Professor / Director, SEERIH, University of Manchester

Vice Dean for Social Responsibility, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Accessibility Director of Science & Engineering Education Research and Innovation HubComino Foundation Associate Great Science Share for Schools Campaign Director Principal Fellow of the HEA RSA Fellow

Sarah Earle

Professor of Primary Science Education, Bath Spa University

Saturday January 11, 2025 11:15 - 12:05 GMT
Pope LT C15

Primary

Theme Research
Key Stage / Audience Type 5 to 7, 7 to 11, Selected by Research Group

12:15 GMT

Coding for Climate Action - empowering students to tackle environmental challenges through computer science

Saturday January 11, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT

Pope LT C15

Coding for Climate Action is an innovative cross-curricular program that empowers KS2 and KS3 students to explore climate change issues and design solutions using code and micro:bit inventions. Developed in partnership with Digitall, this comprehensive curriculum provides ready-to-use lesson plans, student journals, slide decks, and other resources to seamlessly integrate computer science into science and sustainability education.

The program is built around an anchoring phenomenon - the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters worldwide. Students are challenged to create early warning systems and other digital solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Through this real-world, relevant context, they develop key computational thinking skills like coding, data analysis, and problem-solving, while also cultivating creativity and a solutions-oriented mindset.

Aligned to the national curriculum, the Coding for Climate Action materials include detailed lesson plans, student activity journals, exemplars, and comprehensive curriculum maps. Designed as a plug-and-play unit, the resources make it easy for teachers to swap these engaging climate-focused lessons into their existing schemes of work.

Whether you're looking to inject more climate education into your computing curriculum or bring computational skills into your science lessons, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies to empower your students as the next generation of climate leaders and digital innovators. Join us to explore how Coding for Climate Action can ignite students' passion for addressing environmental challenges through computer science.

Speakers

Vojtech Tichavsky

Amazon Future Engineers

Sponsors

Amazon in the Community

Amazon is here to make a difference in the world, in a way unique to Amazon. With a culture built around solving “impossible” problems, we take a different, more hands-on approach to what is traditionally known as corporate philanthropy. We know that money is important, but we... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 12:15 - 13:05 GMT
Pope LT C15

All

Theme Sustainability climate change & environmental issues
Key Stage / Audience Type 11-14, Global, ECTs, Teacher Developers, 7 to 11

13:15 GMT

Keynote: Can Geology save the world?

Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT

Pope LT C15

Geologists just look at rocks, right? In this talk, I’ll invite you to reimagine the almost unimaginable ways in which geology shapes our lives, livelihoods, and Labour's red wall. I’ll show how many of the great social, environmental and economic challenges of the 21st Century require the work of Geoscientists…

Speakers

Christopher Aiden-Lee Jackson

Professor of Basin Analysis, Imperial College London (Dept of Earth Science & Engineering)

Chris Jackson is Technical Director at the engineering consultancy WSP and Visiting Professor of Basin Analysis at Imperial College London. Chris works in the general area of sedimentary basin analysis. When not studying the subsurface of the Earth, Chris gives geoscience lectures... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 13:15 - 14:05 GMT
Pope LT C15

All

Theme Sustainability climate change & environmental issues
Key Stage / Audience Type 0-4, 5 to 7, 7 to 11, 11-14, 14-16, Post-16, ITEs, ECTs, Advisors/Consultants, Teacher Developers, Technicians, Global, FE/Skills, Trainees

14:15 GMT

The Magic of Storytelling in the Diverse Physics Curriculum

Saturday January 11, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT

Pope LT C15

The value of using stories and narrative to engage learners is well established. In this talk, we will explore research-backed approaches to how storytelling can enrich the physics curriculum and how doing so provides educators with novel, authentic ways to incorporate vital themes around equality, diversity and inclusion.

Speakers

Jonathan Lansley-Gordon

Education Consultant, Director Physics Forward, Representing Oxford University Press

Jonathan Lansley-Gordon (Director, Physics Forward) obtained his master’s degree in theoretical physics from Imperial College London, going on to teach secondary mathematics and science. He is passionate about science communication and believes in the power of physics to inspire... Read More →

Sponsors

Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is the UK’s number one school science publisher. Learning changes lives – and we’re here to drive that change.We support people wherever and however they want to learn, so they can achieve their learning goals and uncover new possibilities. Today, we... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 14:15 - 15:05 GMT
Pope LT C15

11-19

Theme Inclusion and Diversity including SEND
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, 14-16
Twitter feed @OUPSecondary; @PhysicsForward

15:30 GMT

Passionate about Plants

Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT

Pope LT C15

Why are plants vital to us ? They can provide solutions to some of the problems associated with today’s world, for example in addressing climate change and improving wellbeing . This session will raise awareness for teachers and pupils , share resources about the issues and the importance of plants.

Using the different types of enquiry we will look at using plants and their friends ,both inside and outside the classroom , to make children more aware of the issues and how plants might help to solve them . There will also be practical tips as to how to grow and look after plants and to create a wildlife garden at school .

Speakers

Susie Burr

PSQM Hub Leader, Independent Consultant

I was a Biology and general science teacher but now work mainly with Primary Schools. I am passionate about plants and encouraging children of all ages to enjoy the outdoors. I run a Primary Science Quality Mark hub In Scotland and have had amazing schools achieving all levels from... Read More →

Saturday January 11, 2025 15:30 - 16:20 GMT
Pope LT C15

Primary

Theme Sustainability climate change & environmental issues
Key Stage / Audience Type ECTs, Global, Teacher Developers, 7 to 11