Children and young people being educated in hospitals and specialist schools in England will gain access to 3D design and printing under a three-year project led by the University of Nottingham, which has been awarded funding from the Royal Society Science Community Grant and the Julia Rausing Trust.
The funding is intended to widen access to STEM education for pupils who attend specialist schools because of complex health needs or long stays in hospital. The work is being carried out with the National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE), while engineers and scientists from universities across the country are supporting efforts to train staff in 3D design and printing so they can run hands-on projects.
First phase and training model
An initial 25 schools will each be provided with a 3D printer and take part in a national training programme led by Nottingham with backing from local partner universities. The programme will run across a term through coordinated sessions built around user-centred design and will culminate in a showcase event. Students will be invited to draw inspiration from their own environment to identify product designs that could work better for them.
The case for practical science
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said schools are where most people first encounter science, and that practical work helps students experience the scientific process, evaluate evidence and understand uncertainty. He said the goal is for all students to experience and be inspired by science, adding that embedding more practical science in schools is an important step towards building future generations of scientists and innovators and equipping people with the scientific literacy needed to be successful citizens.
Professor Ruth Goodridge of the University of Nottingham, who leads the project, said children and young people who spend extended periods in hospital or attend specialist schools often miss out on the enriching, hands-on STEM experiences their peers take for granted. She said the project aims to close that gap through 3D design and printing activities that broaden horizons, build confidence and develop valuable skills for the future.
Goodridge added that hospital school staff report that illness can make a child's world feel very small, with disrupted education, anxiety and low confidence often affecting engagement with learning. In that setting, she said, 3D printing offers an accessible and rewarding way for students to develop new skills, solve problems and create something tangible, providing a real sense of achievement at a time when many aspects of their lives may feel beyond their control. For many of these young people, she said, it is a chance not only to learn new skills but also to see new possibilities for their future.
Rehabilitation partnership
The NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Rehabilitation, led by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, is partnering with the project to explore how 3D printing technologies could contribute to children's rehabilitation and recovery following serious illness or injury.
Stephen Deadman of NAHE said the project would provide vital skills for children unable to access traditional school, giving them invaluable hands-on experience with specialist equipment. Beyond the individual skills, he said, working together both within and between schools would bring a sense of community and shared achievement.