Celebrating 40 years of inspiration
Launched with a pilot group of students in 1986, CREST Awards celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026.
To mark this milestone, the British Science Association is running an anniversary campaign from September 2026 to July 2027, bringing together a series of special projects, events and stories that celebrate four decades of inspiring young people through STEM.
Celebrate the people, partnerships and achievements that have shaped CREST over the past 40 years with us!
This anniversary campaign showcases the programme's lasting impact on generations of young people, and looks ahead to the future and how CREST will continue to inspire the next generation of curious minds and problem solvers for years to come.
Let's turn curiosity into achievement for young people together!
Faces of CREST
Meet the people that make what CREST Awards are today.
From students who achieved CREST Awards and educators who run CREST, to assessors who assess CREST applications, and CREST partners and supporters, Faces of CREST shares the stories of the people who help make CREST happen.
Each month we spotlight the people, passions and projects that bring CREST to life. Discover how being part of CREST can inspire young people to explore STEM, build confidence and develop skills for the future.
CREST 40th anniversary resource: Droplet Detectives
Become a Droplet Detective!
Created to mark CREST's 40th anniversary, this brand-new resource, developed with researchers from University College London (UCL), invites students to investigate a real-world scientific challenge.
By exploring ways to reduce the spread of airborne infections in schools, young people can build research skills, think critically and experience what it's like to work on science that makes a difference.
Droplet Detectives - Discovery level
Droplet Detectives is a unique project that connects students to real research into the spread of airborne infections and, at Discovery level, allows them to relate that to their school environment.
Droplet Detectives - Bronze level
At Bronze level students can take the learning further through an extended project that applies the research to their school setting or another chosen public space.
Useful documents for completing Droplet Detectives
- Students should complete a CREST Discovery Passport at the end of their five-hour Discovery challenge. The Passport will prompt them to reflect on their learning and think about the skills they have developed within t...#Discovery#Passport#Reflection#Skills
- This handy guide gives you all the key information you need to run a successful Discovery Award with your students. Once you have read the guide you are ready to choose a project, download the resources and run your D...#Discovery#Teacher#Guide
- This profile form can be completed by students as part of their Bronze CREST Award and submitted alongside a project report. It supports young people to reflect on their work and demonstrate how they have met the CRES...#CRESTBronze#Profile#Criteria
- This accompanying guide is designed for educators who are supporting students to complete a Bronze CREST Award. It covers how to run and record a project, how to assess students' work and the relevant CREST criteria a...#CRESTBronze#Teacher#Guide
CREST kit boxes, funded by Urenco
40 years of CREST. 40 boxes of STEM inspiration.
Funded by Urenco, 40 CREST SuperStar Kit Boxes, are being dispatched to 40 schools in London and Northwest England in autumn 2026, selected from British Science Association’s Engage Teacher Network.
Packed with with materials, activities and ideas, each box gives educators everything they need to spark curiosity and bring STEM to life for young learners aged 7 to 11.
CREST Awards at the BRILLIANT Festival
CREST is heading to BRILLIANT Festival this November!
Join us in Liverpool as we celebrate 40 years of CREST Awards with hands-on STEM activities, exciting challenges and plenty of opportunities to get curious. Whether you're building, experimenting or discovering something new, come and see how CREST has been inspiring young people for four decades and continues to spark the innovators of tomorrow.
