Outreach

The Reading Scholars Programme gives Year 12 students a real taste of life as a university undergraduate. It provides participants with practical support as they begin their higher education application process.

Featuring input from leading academics and current undergraduate e-mentors, the programme aims to challenge participants academically and enhance their current studies.

As part of our commitment to widening participation, the programme is for students who meet our widening participation criteria.

Applications for the Reading Scholars Programme will open in October.

The Departments of Food and Nutritional Sciences and Pharmacology, in collaboration with the National Centre for Biotechnology Education (NCBE), run an exciting School Ambassador Scheme.

As part of this initiative, final-year university students visit local schools and colleges to deliver engaging sessions to Year 12 science students. These visits often include a hands-on relevant science practical, followed by a talk where ambassadors share their experiences of university life, their degree courses, industrial placements, and future career plans.

Talk-only visits are also available for schools that may not be able to accommodate a practical session, offering the same valuable insight into university study and non-clinical science career pathways.

This scheme is particularly beneficial for students interested in exploring non-clinical careers in science.

To celebrate British Science Week 2025, academics from the School of Chemistry, Food Science and Pharmacy at the University of Reading visited local schools and colleges to deliver a series of engaging talks on a wide range of scientific topics.

Each session on average attracted audiences of over 100 students, with topics including:

• The bacteria in our gut
• How drugs affect the body
• A day in the life of a pharmaceutical scientist

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be running this outreach programme again for British Science Week 2026 in March.

If your school is local to the University of Reading and you’d like to host a talk, please get in touch: scfpoutreach@reading.ac.uk.

The University of Reading’s Chemistry Department is hosting its popular Spectroscopy Masterclass on Tuesday 4th November 2025 and Tuesday 3rd March 2026.

This hands-on session is designed for A-level Chemistry students, offering practical experience with key analytical techniques including IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and ¹H/¹³C NMR. Students will work in university labs, using real instruments and data to deepen their understanding of how chemists apply these tools in real-world problem-solving.

The session closely aligns with the A-level Chemistry specification, particularly the analytical techniques section, and helps demystify challenging topics through expert guidance and engaging activities. To register please follow the link here or email scfpoutreach@reading.ac.uk.

Scientists of the Future day is an exciting, full-day event held at the University of Reading, giving students the chance to experience a range of scientific disciplines through interactive, hands-on activities.

The day is divided into three engaging sessions:

Gel Electrophoresis Practical: Step into the lab and get hands-on with molecular biology techniques.

Colourful Chemistry & Equilibria: Discover the dynamic world of chemical equilibria through eye-catching experiments.

Sensory Science: Explore how taste and smell work together in our specialist food sensory suite and understand how these senses shape our perception of food.

This event is part of our widening participation programme and is aimed at students who meet our WP criteria.

Due to high demand and limited places, early registration is strongly recommended.

This year Scientists of the Future Day will be held on 31st March 2026. If you would like us to notify you know when registration opens then please contact scfpoutreach@reading.ac.uk to join our mailing list. 

The University of Reading, in collaboration with the Royal Society of Chemistry Food Group, is excited to host the Future of Food Schools Workshop on Tuesday 7th July 2026.

We warmly invite a teacher and up to ten students (Years 9–12) from your school to join us for a fun, interactive day exploring the global challenges facing our food system — and how chemistry can help solve them.

The workshop will include:

• Inspiring talks from industry experts
• Hands-on activities and teamwork challenges
• Exciting prizes to be won!

This event is designed to inform and inspire both students and teachers, showcasing the real-world impact of chemistry in tackling food-related issues. Places are limited, so please register your interest here before November. For more information, contact: scfpoutreach@reading.ac.uk.

Neurosparks is an inspiring two-day event held at the University of Reading at the end of July, designed to ignite curiosity and passion for neuroscience and related fields.

Throughout the event, Year 12 students take part in a variety of interactive, hands-on activities, from building model brains to exploring techniques for boosting memory and cognitive performance. Students will also gain insights into cutting-edge brain science research and what it’s like to study neuroscience at university.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone considering a future in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical sciences, or similar disciplines. If you would like us to notify you know when registration opens then please contact scfpoutreach@reading.ac.uk to join our mailing list. 

Each year, we offer a range of taster days in pharmacy, pharmacology, chemistry, and food science; all designed to give you a real insight into what it’s like to study these subjects at Reading.

These interactive, hands-on events include subject-specific practical activities and sessions led by academic staff. During the chemistry and food science taster day, students can tailor their experience by choosing:

• two chemistry activities
• two food science activities
• or one of each, ideal for those still exploring their options.

All taster days also include a guided campus tour, lunch and the chance to hear directly from our current students about their experiences at university.

Whether you're set on a subject or still deciding, our taster days are a great way to explore your interests and get a feel for university life. If you would like us to let you know when registration opens then please.

Register your interest 

We’re excited to share that more outreach events will be launching later this year! Keep an eye on this page for updates and details on how to sign up for our 2025–2026 programme. Or to be kept informed about all our events in chemistry, food science and pharmacy, join our mailing list by emailing scfpoutreach@reading.ac.uk.