Materials Science Award

School groups in year 7 - 9 are invited to design, test and create new materials enhancing their Science, Maths and Design & Technology knowledge while discovering their inner Engineer.

Sign Up:

Applications to this programme are now closed for 25/26. To speak to a member of the STEM Outreach team directly, please email Natalie.

Programme & Activity

Programme Structure. All schools to complete stages 1 & 2 for students to receive a certificate at the Celebration Event at The University of Leeds on Friday 19 June 2025, 9:10 - 12pm

School groups will discover new materials across three topics with access to facilities in The Bragg Centre:

• Alternative Materials
• Sustainable World
• Females in Engineering

• Stage 1: In- school workshops

Available October 2025- February 2026 (to select at least 1 workshop p/school)

Delivered on your preferred date, these 1 hour/ 1.5 hour workshops involve designing and testing new materials while relating examples to everyday life.  Delivered by an Engineering Education Outreach Fellows, students will have the opportunity to ask questions about university and related careers.

All materials and resources are provided. 

 

Curriculum Topic	Name of Activity	Year Group
Plastics and Polymers	Ceramic Creations	7 to 9
Sustainable Design	Water Filtration Experiment	7 to 9
Product Design	Surgical Instruments	7 to 9

 

• Stage 2: On- campus events

Alternative Materials - Wednesday 26 November 2025 (to attend 1 out of 2 campus events)

Students are invited onto campus to take part in a series of practical activities specialising in Chemical & Process Engineering, Medical Engineering and Physics.  In addition to meeting academics, students will receive a campus tour and meet current undergraduates studying Engineering.

Sustainable World - Tuesday 10 February 2026 (to attend 1 out of 2 campus events)

Students are invited onto campus to take part in a series of practical activities specialising in 3D printing and recycled materials.  In addition to meeting academics, students will receive a campus tour and meet current undergraduates studying Engineering.

All materials and resources are provided.

 

• Stage 3: Celebration Event on Friday 19 June 2026, 9:10am - 12pm

All schools and students that took part in at least one in-school activity and one campus event will receive a certificate of achievement. Students are invited to the University of Leeds to reflect on their engagement over the past year and collect their certificates from a senior member of staff.

 

Background Information

The STEM Outreach team works closely with academics from The Bragg Centre for Materials Research, a centre for advanced materials and research innovation.

The University of Leeds is a founding partner in the Sir Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials and aims to be a world-leading centre for advanced materials research and commercialisation. The Institute's work at Leeds is based at the Bragg Centre.

The Institute’s remit is to support the UK manufacturing base and reduce the time to take new materials from invention to market.