This weekend (Saturday 15 June) marks 10 years since Ramsgate-based organisation Discovery Planet C.I.C. delivered their first event showcasing cutting-edge scientific research and linking it to the world around us. Since that first project, which involved collaborating with the University of Kent to bring an inflatable planetarium to Ramsgate Town Centre, and hanging Ramsgate’s very own constellation from the trees, more than 26,000+ visits have been made to their workshops.
Discovery Planet’s work is strengthened by collaborating with a range of other organisations, including the University of Kent – who have continued to bring their research and expertise to the wider public since that first event ten years ago.
Following funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in early 2020, as part of their ‘Wonder Initiative’, Discovery Planet opened a venue on Ramsgate High Street and brought a 2-year programme of free science workshops to schools and the wider community covering topics from renewable energy; telescopes; light; meteorites; materials and heritage science.
Speaking about the partnership with Discovery Planet, Professor Shane Weller, said: ‘We are really proud to be part of the fantastic work being done by Discovery Planet, and congratulate the team on everything they have already achieved. Universities have a key role in serving their communities and this partnership supports our commitment to our civic mission, helping us to bring our expertise, knowledge and passion for learning to the wider community. We look forward to a bright future working with Discovery Planet, and meeting more of the local schools and community.’
The Discovery Planet team has developed a national reputation for excellence in community engagement and won a slew of prestigious prizes, the latest one being a prestigious prize for Inclusion and Diversity from the Royal Society of Chemistry.
This award is just the latest in a long list which includes the Ogden Trust Outreach Award for Longitudinal Projects to Widen Participation and a SEPnet public engagement award for Innovative project at the Institute of Physics Awards.
A partnership with Arts in Ramsgate has led to a nomination for a second award from Creative Lives, which celebrates the everyday creativity of groups from across the UK and Ireland. Discovery Planet and Arts in Ramsgate set up High Street Social Club in the Autumn last year. You can vote for them to win the People’s Choice Award and find out about the other entrants here: https://www.creative-lives.org/2024-shortlist.
The Club consisted of weekly creative sessions at Arts in Ramsgate, plus three day-long events operating across both venues: The Art of Books, The Art of Maps and The Art of Feeling Good. Anyone interested in joining the group that has formed from Arts in Ramsgate , which continues each Friday at Arts in Ramsgate and get in touch for more details office@artsinramsgate.org.uk.
Xanthe Pitt, Director at Discovery Planet says: ‘We are absolutely delighted to have won this prize. I was encouraged to drop all science subjects at school, so didn’t study any past the age of 14. To have won this award from the Royal Society of Chemistry all these years later is incredible. I learn something new at all our events, along with the young people we are targeting, and am testament to the fact that it’s never too late to discover the joy and wonder of science. We are all looking forward to seeing what the next ten years brings!’
Discovery Planet will be celebrating the recent Awards and their tenth birthday with a free science party on Saturday the 15th of June and at Discovery Planet HQ, 47 High Street, Ramsgate, Kent, CT11 9AG, from 10am to 3pm. It is open to all and people can drop in any time they like to watch flash freezes, have fun with robots, explore forensic and space science and plenty more.
Watch a short video about the collaboration between Discovery Planet and the University of Kent here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcb9mxbYU08
Thank you to all the staff and students who have been part of this project and taken our exciting research to the local community.