Soapbox Science Plymouth

Grassroots science outreach project

Soapbox Science at the Royal William Yard, 2023

Katie Rhodes

Soapbox Science is a novel public outreach platform for promoting women scientists and the science they do. Our events around the world transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate with the aim to encourage women in science and also challenge perceptions of who a scientist is.

Our events around the world transform public areas into an arena for public learning and scientific debate. With Soapbox Science, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, learn from, heckle, question, probe, interact with and be inspired by some of our leading scientists. No middle man, no PowerPoint slide, no amphitheatre – just remarkable scientists who are there to amaze with their latest discoveries, and to answer the science questions the public have been burning to ask.

The University of Plymouth has participated in Soapbox Science for a number of years and our events are detailed below.

Soapbox Science returns to the Royal William Yard, Plymouth on Sunday 1 June 2025.

Call for speakers open | deadline: Sunday 2 March

Are you a woman, non-binary or gender queer person who works in science and who is passionate about your research? Are you eager to talk to the general public about your work in a fun, informal setting? If so, then Soapbox Science needs YOU! We are looking for scientists in all areas of STEMM, from PhD students to professors, and from entry-level researchers to entrepreneurs, to take part in this grassroots science outreach project.

Apply online via the Soapbox Science website

The event page will be updated as details are confirmed.

Katie Rhodes

Soapbox Science at the Royal William Yard

Soapbox Science 2023

Talks included:

How to train your brain...to control machines (speaker: Dr Krithika Anil)
Science research is for everyone – there is no such thing as a 'subject for boys' (speaker: Dr Vikki Cheung)
Can the sea power my kettle? (speaker: Dr Keri Collins)

Helping Nemo: How can science support the marine ornamental industry? (speaker: Sancha Conway Holroyd)
The science of sensing sentience: What can hermit crabs tell us about the evolution of sentience in non-human animals? (speaker: Ari Drummond)
Aphantasia: What does it mean to think without pictures? (speaker: Stephanie Hartgen-Walker)
Do plants behave and grow the same in a lab and in a field? (speaker: Dr Anne Plessis)

Soapbox Science 2021

Soapbox Science Plymouth took place virtually this year, opening the event up to an even wider audience.

Female scientists from around the South West gave talks on anything from ‘robots to rockpools’ with props and an online live interactive session to make learning fun!