North-East pupils tackle real space research through award winning Orbyts programme

A Northumbria University-backed programme giving North-East pupils the chance to do real space research has won a major national physics prize for widening access to the subject.

Orbyts is a national outreach programme that pairs university researchers with schools, allowing students to carry out genuine research.

It has been awarded the 2026 Institute of Physics (IOP) Lawrence Bragg Medal and Prize for opening up physics to students from all backgrounds and bringing fresh energy to physics teaching in schools facing some of the most significant challenges.

Girls make up fewer than one in four A Level physics entrants in the UK. The IOP has also reported students from less well-off backgrounds are three times less likely to take the subject than those from the wealthiest groups. Every Orbyts student group includes at least 50% girls and at least 50% students eligible for pupil premium funding.

Northumbria’s Orbyts hub began in 2020, when virtual projects were run with St Mary’s Catholic School and Jesmond Park Academy during the pandemic. It now works with five schools: St Mary’s Catholic School, Cramlington Learning Village, Jesmond Park Academy, Marden High School and John Spence Community High School. More than 50 students have taken part each year since 2023.

Since then, 32 researchers, 30 of them from Northumbria and most of them PhD students, have delivered 21 projects in schools. Researchers visit partner schools for one to two hours a week over 14 weeks, setting the starting topic based on their own research before students take over and shape the direction of the project.

Dr Shannon Killey, Head of Strategic Development at Orbyts and a postdoctoral researcher in Northumbria’s Solar and Space Physics Group, said: “Working with our local schools is a remarkable way of empowering young people to lead real life research projects and inspiring students to engage in science and engineering. We are deeply grateful to receive the Lawrence Bragg Medal in recognition of Orbyts and its impact.”

North-East students have led cutting edge research aligned with the University’s world-leading expertise in Solar and Space Physics, including modelling how particles are accelerated in space, forecasting solar flares and designing CubeSats.

Jennifer Axon, at Jesmond Park Academy, said “The knowledge and skills the students gained during this experience will undoubtedly have a positive impact on their academic and professional journey.”

One student who took part said: “I now feel like I want to take my education in physics past GCSE and wish to study it at A level.”

Each project ends with students presenting their findings at an annual conference at Northumbria, followed by a certificate ceremony.

Emily Grant, a PhD student in the group and North-East Hub Lead, said: “It has been a privilege to see young people grow in confidence through Orbyts, from working on research projects at a local school to presenting complex work at the Orbyts conference, and to watch them realise they are more than capable of pursuing a career in STEM.”

Professor Jonathan Rae and Professor Clare Watt, Co-Leads of Northumbria’s Solar and Space Physics Group, said: “We have been privileged to witness the depth to which Orbyts benefits local pupils, local schools and teachers, and local Universities while advancing the boundaries of knowledge and understanding.”

Congratulating this year’s award winners, Paul Howarth, IOP President, said: “Our award winners represent the very best of physics. Through their curiosity, expertise and dedication, they are expanding knowledge, driving innovation and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

“Physics underpins so much of the modern world, from healthcare and clean energy to advanced technologies and our understanding of the universe. The achievements we celebrate today demonstrate the extraordinary impact that physicists have in research, education, industry and beyond.

“On behalf of the Institute of Physics, I offer my warmest congratulations to every one of our award winners. Their contributions strengthen our discipline, benefit society and show what can be achieved through a career in physics. I hope they take great pride in this well deserved recognition and that their success encourages others to follow in their footsteps.”

Schools or researchers interested in getting involved on Orbyts can email orbyts@orbyts.org.

Orbyts began at University College London (UCL) in 2015 and has since grown nationally with partners including the University of Leicester, University of Sheffield and University of Warwick. It has run more than 300 projects, reached more than 3,000 students and worked with more than 70 teachers across 60 schools. Orbyts is also managed by Research Inspired CIC.

Find out more about studying Physics BSc (Hons) and Physics MPhys (Hons) at Northumbria University.