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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions about Science Shops Wales and our work.

What is a Science Shop? / Beth yw Siop Gwyddoniaeth?
Science Shops are not the usual kind of shop. They are small units in local communities that carry out scientific research for community groups. They already exist in lots of countries across Europe and the rest of the world.

What sort of problems can a Science Shop tackle? / Pa fath o broblemau gall Siop Gwyddoniaeth taclo?
‘Science’ can mean almost any topic as long as we are able to use a logical approach. Science Shops have carried out projects on topics such as the environment, health, social problems, and even history and law.

What happens when I come to a Science Shop with a problem? / Sut mae Siopau Gwyddoniaeth yn taclo problemau?
You will talk to a member of our staff about your community’s problem. If there is already information to help with your problem, the Science Shop will find it for you. They may also be able to help you to use the information to tackle your problem. If there is no useful information available, the Science Shop may be able to help. They will need you to tell them as much as you can about the problem and your community in order to decide how to approach the research.

Who exactly will do the research? / Pwy yn union fydd yn wneud yr ymchwil?
There are many people who could take part in the research. The science shop has a team of trained researchers. University students and their tutors may carry out some research. We believe that it is important that the staff and students of Welsh universities use their learning and resources to help their local communities deal with real problems.
Sometimes, a university student will be the best person to carry out the research. In this case, you will need to meet the student with his or her tutor to discuss the problem and agree how to approach the project.
However, we are very keen that you, as members of community groups, have the chance to take part in projects too. The Science Shop staff will give you training, equipment and plenty of support during the project. Whether or not you take a full part in the research, we will meet with you often to talk about progress.
When it is finished, we will produce a report together and ensure that other groups are also able to use the information. We will make sure that the local press has information on the project. We can also help you take the next steps using the research results. Then, we will look back together to decide how successful the project has been and if there is anything we can learn to help us in our future projects. Contact us to find out more.

What happens to the research afterwards? / Beth sy’n digwydd i’r ymchwil wedyn?
Science Shops Wales (SSW) believes in open access to information for the benefit of communities – this is why we publish our reports and findings to the completed reports page on the website. SSW grants license to community groups and charitable organisations to reproduce, store in a retrieval system or transmit in any form or by any means these publications, in whole or in part, for the purposes of their normal business, provided SSW is cited as the author. Except as otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, no part of these publications may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publishers by any other individuals, groups, businesses or organisations. SSW asserts its right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Who Funds Science Shops Wales? / Pwy sy’n ariannu Siopau Gwyddoniaeth Cymru
The Science Shops Wales project is funded by The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, as part of a major investment to support regeneration and education in the Heads of the Valleys area in South Wales.
£1.5m is shared between the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport for a two-year project to broaden the higher education opportunities available to residents of the South Wales Valleys.
Awarded through HEFCW’s Strategic Development Fund, the funding is used to finance a number of initiatives which will give local people an opportunity to experience university education or gain knowledge which would help them to pursue a higher education qualification.
The two universities will provide learning opportunities at the core of some of our most disadvantaged communities with schemes such as ‘Science Shops’, which builds on work already started through the Community University of the Valleys.
The Science Shop, and its Contact Points – the first of their kind in England and Wales - are available in venues such as shopping centres, where tutors, researchers and students and help local groups solve problems by using hands-on scientific methods.

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