RASreach 2026
Science Communication in a Changing Landscape
University of Manchester
Hosted in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society
RASreach is a one-day conference convening science communicators, educators, researchers, and independent practitioners to examine the current and emerging landscape of science communication in the UK. The programme will address key themes including the economic realities of freelancing and funding, the integration of artificial intelligence in research and dissemination, public engagement and outreach practice, and interdisciplinary approaches to resource development and collaboration.
The conference will take place on Friday, 27 March 2026, from 09:00–17:00, at the J. Bell Burnell Lecture Theatre, Schuster Building (Physics), University of Manchester. The event will be delivered in a hybrid format, with RAS Fellows invited to join online from across the UK and internationally.
Registration is now open. Please click one of the links below to book your place. Attendance is free for RAS Fellows (in person and online) and £20 for non-Fellows (in person and online).
We look forward to welcoming colleagues for a timely and forward-looking day of discussion and exchange.
Updated: 18 March, 20026
RASreach 2026 – Manchester – Programme
09:00 | Morning Coffee |
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09:30 | Start | Lucinda Offer | RAS Welcome + Housekeeping | ||
09:40 | Opening Keynote | Prof Tim O'Brien | Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement (JBCE): An innovative Cultural Institution of the University of Manchester | ||
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10:00 | Freelance | Dr James Lees | A Failed Freelancer and Unemployed Academic: Supporting Early Career Communicators | ||
10:15 | Dr Niamh Shaw | Town Scientist: A Community-Embedded Model for Space Outreach in an Era of Uncertainty | |||
10:30 | Dr Elizabeth Cunningham | Was 2025 the best year to go freelance? | |||
10:45 |
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11:00 | Stretch Break |
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11:05 | Funding | Dr Dom Galliano | Is this the end for Outreach? | ||
11:20 | Dr Erin Pallott | The gap between policy and practice: Perspectives as a researcher and a science communication professional | |||
11:35 | Dan Pye | Sustaining the Spark: Sustaining Science Engagement in a Changing Funding Landscape | |||
11:50 | Dr Amy Gentry | Keeping the wheels on the UCL GeoBus | |||
12:05 |
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12:20 | Networking |
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12:45-1:45 | Lunch |
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13:45 | E&O/DEI/STEAM | Prof. Paul Roche | Planet Hoppers - gamifying astronomy and space science | ||
14:00 | Mohammed Attaur Rahman | Raising Curiosity: The Rochdale Science Initiative | |||
14:15 | Dr Gregory Cooke | Who Gets Taught? Gender Representation in UK Science Curricula | |||
14:30 | Dr. Ulrike Kuchner, MFA | ArtScience, Outreach and Co-Creation: Insights from an Immersive Theatre Collaboration with Early-Career Astrophysicists and Artists | |||
14:45 |
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15:00 | Coffee Break |
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15:30 | AI | Exodus Chun-Long Sit | Navigating AI in Science Communication: Support, Disruption, and Barriers for Astronomy Education Professionals | ||
15:45 | Mike Peel | Communicating Science Online with Wikipedia in the LLM Era | |||
16:00 | Tanya Petersen | AI and new tech in science communication: a double-edged sword? | |||
16:15 | Prof Andy Newsam | Discussion and Q&A | |||
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16:30 | Closing Keynote | Edwin Colyer | Flight, fight or freeze? How should we react to GenAI? | ||
17:00 | End |
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During Networking session, Lunch, and Coffee break
| Sadhbh Leahy | Learnings from the "Space Crafts" STEAM project at DIAS Dunsink Observatory |
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Alan C Pickwick | Corrected 2 - A quick review of Inexpensive Projects that are likely to be successful in Schools and Astronomy Societies |
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Dr. Malcolm Druett | Science education and communication: from local schools to international collaborations with export controls |
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The Jodcast | The Jodcast - 20 years of sharing science |
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Mr Roy Alexander MAEd, FRAS | Beyond the Dark Sky Park: Dismantling Socio-Spatial Barriers to Astronomical Outreach |
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Miss Mélissa M. Azombo | Outreach Pivot: Addressing Astronomy’s Talent Pool Surplus |
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Iara Tiago | POV: Communicating Astronomy in Chile - An Analysis on Beliefs, Attitudes, and Intentions of Foreign Scientists and Communicators |
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Hannah Middleton | The LIGO Magazine |
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Ashley Par | UMPO: Successes in Student-led Outreach |
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Lauren Doyle and Conor Byrne | The Warwick Mobile Planetarium: Bringing the Universe to Local Communities |
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For further information about RASreach 2026 at the University of Manchester, please contact Lucinda Offer, RAS Education and Outreach Officer, at loffer@ras.ac.uk
In partnership with:
