British Science Association marks 40 years of CREST Awards

(29 September 2026) The British Science Association has announced the launch of a year-long campaign to celebrate 40 years of CREST Awards, its flagship education programme providing hands-on, flexible, and impactful activities and projects that engage and reward young people aged 3-19 of all abilities, bringing science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) to life for them. 

Beginning in September 2026 and continuing through to July 2027 (an academic year), the anniversary campaign, titled “CREST Awards: 40 Years of Inspiration,” brings together a series of projects and initiatives designed to celebrate the role CREST has played and continues to play in engaging young people with STEM.

The initiatives include introducing a range of STEM teaching and learning resources for educators and students, showcase the achievements, impact and legacy of CREST Awards since its launch in 1986, highlight the stories and best practices that have emerged through CREST, and more.

Over four decades, CREST has unlocked generations of young people’s potential and sparked curiosity for thousands of students; It has helped them turn their curiosity into achievement by developing skills needed for study and life, and connecting them with real-world science.

The programme is designed to be accessible to learners of all abilities, encouraging curiosity, building confidence and enabling young people to realise their potential. It is recently recommended in Department for Education’s latest Enrichment Framework.

As the British Science Association marks this milestone, the campaign will look both backwards and forwards: recognising the impact CREST has already had on young people across the UK, while continuing to inspire future generations to develop STEM skills and confidence that can support them throughout their lives.