The natural world is changing at an extremely fast pace, with biodiversity loss, climate change and global pandemics. Science education has never been more important. Inspiring, engaging and enabling young people to take action for conservation is key to a brighter future.
We believe that science and conservation education are really important to creating a better world.
The zoo provides the perfect opportunity for young people to spend time in nature, which has many mental and physical benefits to general wellbeing, as well as knowledge and understanding. Engaging young people in conservation, the issues that we’re facing on our planet and then empowering them to have a voice, really helps to provide meaning and real world applications for science and other subjects. With an increase in young people’s awareness and desire to be involved in conservation, zoos play a really important role in passing on knowledge and giving them skills to protect the incredible biodiversity of our planet.
Not only is Chester Zoo a scientific organisation, but it’s also a wonderful place to get inspired by wildlife! From rhinos to golden mantellas, there’s so much to learn about species in the wild, their threats, and what people can do to help. The zoo solves so many conservation issues through science and we have lots of exciting examples of applied conservation science that we love to share with our visitors and school groups. Science is key to helping us achieve our mission to prevent extinction.
Science allows people to learn so much about the world and gain an understanding of how things are connected and work together. By providing a foundation of knowledge, science provides the opportunity to discover more about the world, different species, ourselves and creates a way of discussing important matters that affect us all.
Science is particularly important for us here at the zoo; we have scientists and educators from a wide variety of backgrounds, researching everything from endocrinology to empowerment. Sciences informs everything we do at the zoo with our animal care, husbandry and breeding programmes but also how we design programmes to engage people.
With our mission of Preventing Extinction, our aim is to inspire and motivate people to learn about and to take conservation action.
To do this, we provide lots of information on the different things we can ALL do to prevent extinction. We deliver an enormous number of science-based workshops, both virtually and in person, where we share our conservation science stories and give people the tools to take conservation action.
We also deliver science education to our visitors through animal talks, drop-in activities and even interactive shows. We’ve worked collaboratively with our Science and Field Programmes teams at science events such as Bluedot Festival and New Scientist Live. We want to inspire young people to get involved with science and conservation in their daily lives or even as a career.
BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK
British Science Week is a celebration of all things science running from 11-20 March. We have lots to offer your learners during this year’s event.
VIRTUAL ZOO DAY
Join us for a Virtual Zoo Day – Science Special! Our Zoo Rangers will take you on a journey around the zoo looking at the science we do from the use of UV light and heat, animal management and studying animal sounds! Tune in on Facebook on 16 March to discover more about the science at Chester Zoo.
British Science Week Virtual Zoo Day
We’re also working in partnership with BBC Bitesize to bring you some fascinating science featuring some of our Zoo scientists on site during British Science Week.
EDUCATION WORKSHOPS
If you are looking for a fun and engaging way to get students excited about science, why not book one of our many science related workshops?
KS1 Living things and their habitats
How are animals adapted to their habitats? Find out on our tour that explores our amazing animals.
KS2 Animals, including humans – Nutrition & Digestion
Why is food important? Do all animals eat the same food? Find out more in our workshop.
KS3: Working Scientifically at Chester Zoo
What can we learn by investigating animal behaviour? Find out in our hands-on workshop
KS4: Science and Careers at Chester Zoo
What scientific job can you do at Chester Zoo? Find out about all the amazing roles available (in person, or virtually) in our workshop.
Post 16: Conservation Genetics
How do we reduce human wildlife conflict using genetics? Practice some of the scientific techniques we use at the Zoo in our workshop.
DISCOVER the SCIENCE we do at the Zoo!
Use our step by step guide to explore learning resources on how we use science at the zoo.
We have lots of ways to discover more about the different ways we apply scientific techniques here at the zoo.
We have LOADS of exciting science resources to explore for all ages.