Inspiring Futures: Blackpool’s pop-up science museum
On Friday 4th July, I had the absolute privilege of attending one of the most inspiring events I’ve been to since becoming MP for Blackpool South. At Gateway Academy, a local primary school in our community, I was invited to the launch of a pop-up science museum – the brainchild of 10-year-old Poppy Docherty, a young scientist with ambition well beyond her years.
Poppy wrote to me earlier this year to tell me she had received a Gold CREST Award from the British Science Association for her project on Future Science Careers. That’s no small feat – Gold Awards are usually achieved by 16-18-year-olds. Yet here was Poppy, aged just 10, conducting meaningful research into how children in places like Blackpool view science and what stops them from seeing it as a future career. I was pleased to welcome Poppy and her parents to congratulate her first hand and hear about her research.
In her project, she described her part of Blackpool as a “science desert” – a phrase that really struck me. She highlighted that the nearest science museum is over an hour and a half away, which for many families in our area, makes visits both costly and unrealistic. It’s no wonder, then, that some young people grow up feeling like science isn’t for them.
Poppy speaking at her event
But rather than stop at identifying the problem, Poppy got to work creating a solution. Teaming up with her teachers and classmates at Gateway Academy, she launched a pop-up science museum right in the school hall – a chance for all pupils, from nursery up to Year 6, to explore, experiment and get excited about science right on their doorstep.
The theme was Evolution and Inheritance, the final science topic in the Year 6 curriculum. Exhibits included how animals adapt to their environments, a fossil-digging station and a hands-on demonstration of how bird beaks evolve depending on what they eat. I had a go at most of the experiments myself and have to admit, I wasn’t half as quick to grasp it as the children were!
Digging for fossils in a pupil experiment
What made the event even more special was the way the whole community came together. Poppy’s mum Natasha and dad Sean helped run a science-themed fundraising shop, complete with activities like “guess the name of the tardigrade bear” and “how many atoms in a jar.” Prizes had been kindly donated by the British Science Association and the Science Museum – including NASA pencils, CREST USB bands and more. It was a brilliant combination of learning, fun and fundraising, all rolled into one.
I was so pleased to see Gill Riches, director of programmes at the British Science Association, come along to support the event – by simply showing up, it showed our children that important institutions will take notice of their efforts and success. The BSA also donated a CREST Superstar Kit Box to the school – full of science activities and materials to inspire a whole class of young minds.
Me, Poppy and Gill Riches from the BSA
The star of the day though, was Poppy. Her energy, curiosity and drive to make a difference were on full display. She’s not just encouraged her classmates to see science as something fun and exciting – she’s raised the aspirations of the entire school community.
Poppy has written to the Prime Minister to share her ideas about making science more accessible to children in rural and underserved areas. She made it clear that we can’t wait until secondary school to inspire the next generation of scientists – we need to act while they’re still forming ideas about their place in the world.
She put it best herself: “Most people make their decision if they like science or want a career in science by the age of ten – and in communities like ours, we just don’t have very engaging science lessons. If we get more funding, we can do more interactive lessons and get more equipment. I want to inspire pupils to consider a career in STEM no matter where they live.”
That’s a message I’ll carry with me back to Westminster. We need to invest in early science education and make sure opportunities aren’t limited by postcode.
Poppy has shown what’s possible when a young person is empowered, encouraged and listened to. I can’t wait to see what she does next as she heads to high school – but I have no doubt she’ll keep challenging us to think bigger and do better for young people in Blackpool and beyond.
