ASE 2027 Annual Conference

The reactivity series is a key concept in chemistry, but it can sometimes be challenging to demonstrate in a way that is both visually engaging and memorable for students. This practical session will explore two engaging experiments that bring the reactivity series to life and provide opportunities for discussion around chemical reactions, observations, and practical technique.
The session will focus on two demonstrations/experiments:
Tin Hedgehogs – an engaging investigation that demonstrates the displacement of copper by tin and provides a striking visual result.

Metal vs Metal – an investigation using aluminium, copper and sodium chloride to explore relative reactivity and encourage students to think critically about what constitutes evidence for a reaction.

Tin Hedgehogs
Participants will investigate the reaction between tin and copper ions, observing the formation of copper on the surface of tin to create the distinctive “tin hedgehog” structure. The experiment provides a visually striking way to introduce displacement reactions and allows technicians to discuss reagent preparation, equipment requirements, practical setup and safe working practices.The activity also provides an opportunity to explore the chemistry behind the observations, including electron transfer and why a more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its compound.

Metal vs Metal – Aluminium, Copper and Sodium Chloride. The second investigation will look at the interaction between aluminium and copper in the presence of sodium chloride. This practical provides an opportunity to challenge students' assumptions about metal reactivity. Participants will consider what happens when the metals interact, why aluminium can behave unexpectedly due to its oxide layer, and how the presence of sodium chloride can influence the process.

Whether you are a lone technician, part of a team or leading a team you will need the support and co-operation of others to make your life easier and get the job done. In this workshop we will look at teams you might be part of, even as a lone technician and ways to communicate and build relationships to build a strong team or support network. We will cover dealing with different people in a team, looking how personalities may differ within a team, how to approach those difficult conversations and how to get things done.

Come along to this session to alleviate anxieties, boost confidence and make physics fearless. With a focus on the required practicals for GCSE combined science, the session will cover subject knowledge, equipment and provide some troubleshooting tips and tricks.

Suitable for primary or secondary age students, owl pellet dissections are a great way to develop observational skills, learn about what owls eat, the skeleton, and more.

This will be a hands on session where you can learn how to safely dissect owl pellets and discover the tiny bones of animals that the owls cannot digest.

In this session we will demonstrate and discuss how to support SEND students in science practicals and share ideas for SEND science club activities, including demonstrating good use of the Widgit software for work sheets.
Technician delegates will benefit from sharing the ideas and resources to help SEND/EAL students in their practice. 

All those registered with a Technicians day ticket are warmly invited to the Techs day lunch, during which the Technician awards will be presented, as follows:

> Newcomer of the Year – recognising a technician who has made an exceptional impact early in their career

> Outstanding Contribution – celebrating an individual who goes above and beyond to support science teaching and learning

> Lifetime Achievement – honouring long-term commitment, expertise, and service to the technician profession

Students often ask, "When will we ever use this or how is this ever used in real life?"
In this session, we will look at different activities that can be used in lessons or as STEM club activities and how they can be related to careers in the real world.

By doing this we may be able to inspire future STEM enthusiasts.

Come along and have a go and making some simple glass items to gain confidence when heating and bending glass. You can keep everything you make, options will include delivery tubes, stirring rods, glass spreaders and U bend tubes amongst others.  If you have a glass cutter in your department – bring it with you!

This session will highlight the vast multitude of benefits felt by staff and students when employing a microscale approach to practical work.

There will be hands-on opportunities to try out some microscale favourites plus hints and tips for where to start with the set up if you’re new to microscale and how to convince your teaching staff to make the switch!

Join us for a practical and hands-on session where we’ll provide support to run a fresh new science club or transition activity where we do the hard work for you.
We’ll share quick ideas and free resources that you can use immediately and will take the strain of ideas and time. We’ll identify time saving strategies, budget busting ideas and filling your science cup up again!
Perfect for anyone looking to give their transition days or science clubs a facelift!

Outcomes:
As a result of attending our session, you will be able to:
•Leave with ideas, practical solutions and time and money saving tips!
•Reflect on current practice and share with other delegates
•Explore issues specific to technicians providing enrichment support

The aims of this session are to:
• Support technicians with ideas and resources for transition activities and science clubs
• Plenty of pick up and go plans with low prep, high impact
• Identify time and money saving methods of running enrichment activities more effectively

Background:
We have been creating digital resources to support educators to run their own in house science clubs for more than 4 years. These resources are age and thematically organised. Initially our packs were just for primary age range as we both have a primary background. The more time we spent chatting with educators of all ages since the inception of My Science Club, the more the idea of supporting secondary colleagues kept arising. Technicians in particular, spent time on our stands and in our sessions telling us they wished something like this existed for secondary as they never seem to have enough time to pull together ideas for content or had run out of ideas and needed a fresh approach. We suggested that our Upper Primary Packs would work well initially but it lit a fire in our bellies that this could grow into something bigger and support more educators to provide engaging enrichment activities and make their lives easier. In January 2026, we launched our first lower secondary packs adapted from the upper primary content. Now, alongside the talented Dr Jo Montogmery, we are now creating bespoke packs for secondary with primary versions. Both of which can be used effectively in transition activities and lower secondary science clubs.

Come and get hands-on with some fun activities and ideas perfect for use in lessons and science clubs.

Activities may include making a doppler ball, handy material test kit, LED torch, pinhole camera, chromatography trolls and more and browse an array of ideas and worksheets to print out at home.

Please drop in and join us!

If you are a science technician, come along to the "Meet the Technicians Committee" session at the end of Friday of Annual Conference 2027.

Got a question? Ever wondered about what goes on behind the scenes? Ever thought about getting involved in Committee activities? Are you wanting to know more about Professional Registration or writing an article for one of the ASE journals or webpages, or presenting at one of our events and sharing your practice?

We look forward to meeting you and helping with your queries!