A University of Nottingham-led project has been awarded funding to bring 3D printing into hospital education for children and young people in England, with an initial 25 schools set to receive a printer and a national training programme.
The funding comes from a Royal Society Science Community Grant and the Julia Rausing Trust. It is intended to widen access to STEM education for children and young people who attend specialist schools because of complex health needs or extended stays in hospital.
The three-year project is being carried out with the National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE). Engineers and scientists from universities across the country are also lending support, with the aim of equipping school staff with 3D design and printing skills so they can run hands-on projects with students.
Training across a term
The national training programme, led by Nottingham with support from local partner universities, will run across a term through coordinated sessions built around user-centred design and culminate in a showcase event. Students will be invited to begin by taking inspiration from their environment and identifying product designs that could work better for them.
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said schools are where most people first encounter science. He said practical science helps students experience the scientific process, evaluate evidence and understand uncertainty, and that the Society wants all students to experience and be inspired by science. Embedding more practical science in schools is an important step towards building future generations of scientists and innovators, he added.
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 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. According to Goodridge, 3D printing offers an accessible and rewarding way for students to develop new skills, solve problems and create something tangible, providing a sense of achievement when many aspects of their lives may feel beyond their control.
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 will provide vital skills for children unable to access traditional school, giving them invaluable hands-on experience with specialist equipment. He added that working together within and between schools will bring additional benefits, including a sense of community and shared achievement.