Reflecting on 'Science on Stage' 2026

The following is the first part of Kate Suttons report about the 14th European festival. Find the entire text here. 


I’ve been reflecting on my participation in the Science on Stage Festival in Lithuania earlier in the year- a European platform provided for teachers to exchange pedagogical concepts and share science teaching ideas. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet and learn from so many- over 4 days- including the 20 wonderful teachers who, with myself,made up the UK delegation including Rose Edmondson, Stuart Naismith, Becky Parker, Alex Black and Pete Munroe. There was a diverse range of projects from early years through to post 16, aiming to share good practice and raise the overall quality of science teaching. My project was part of the ‘STEM Education for Sustainable Development’ category and highlighted the power of collaborative learning through use of ‘Great Science Share for Schools’ resources, linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (UN).

I travelled with Rose, an excellent science teacher and representative of secondary science education in England- this was such a pleasure. It was a real honour to be part of such a talented UK delegation and to subsequently connect with colleagues from across Europe and beyond; with 35 countries represented at the festival in Klaipeda, Lithuania. 

It was also an honour to be part of the opening ceremony delegation addressed by the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda. It was wonderful to meet teachers throughout the festival who were visiting from many countries- to share expertise, resources, ideas and enthusiasm for STEM related learning. What struck me most was the passion for science and STEM education that was so visible throughout the festival. It was inspiring to see teachers sharing ideas, celebrating innovative approaches and learning from one another. Delegates came with inspirational projects, resources and experiences which were fascinating to learn about and from. Being part of this community was both a privilege and a reminder of the creativity, enthusiasm and commitment that teachers bring to science education.