The UKPN Education & Outreach working group exists to promote the inclusion of polar research in school curricula and to organise events which allow pupils and students to learn more about life and research in polar regions, as well as the careers open to school leavers in similar fields. So far, UK Polar Network members have taken part in the Royal Geographical Society Explore conference, written articles for magazines, and presented information about the UKPN at international conferences! See the Past Events section for more that our team has done.

The Education & Outreach group are particularly interested in visiting schools to talk to students of all ages about their work and experiences in polar regions. UKPN members have previously visited primary schools in England and Wales, and presented workshops to sixth form students using videos, presentations and polar clothing and equipment as visual aids. A list of upcoming events can be found here and photos of past events can be found here. Any UKPN members are encouraged to take part in such visits, so please explore our web pages and contact us today if you're interested!

If you are planning a school visit, here are some resources you should check out for demos, ideas, and activities:
     A list of questions school kids may have for polar scientists
     Discovering Antarctica, a website with a wide range of info and activities
     The International Polar Year's outreach website
     Polar Education Resources - tagged by grade level, subject area, and resource type (lessons, books, audio, etc.)
     The International Polar Foundations's Educations portal
     Geography and Science Curricula for Key Stages 1 & 2
     The Future of Arctic Sea Ice and Global Impacts - learn how the polar regions impact YOU
     Notes on supporting children's education
     Talks on Polar Education and Outreach by Alex Gaffikin of the Natural History Museum and
          Liz Pasteur of the International Polar Foundation
     An example school presentation, provided by E&O team members
     An online presentation on Bringing Science to Schools
     more will be coming...

If you have any questions about any Education and Outreach school visits or activities in general, then please email us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it