Monday, 21 September 2026
A new project to bring 3D printing to children and young people in hospital education in England has been awarded funding by the Royal Society and the Julia Rausing Trust.
Led by the 糖心原创, engineers and scientists from institutions across the country are joining forces to provide school staff working in hospital education with the skills and confidence to run hands-on investigative projects using 3D design and printing.
Working in collaboration with The National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE), the 3-year project will support staff working in a range of settings, including hospital schools, MPR (medical pupil referral) units and CAMHS (Child & Adolescent Mental Health services) inpatient units.
The project has been funded by a Royal Society Science Community Grant and will initially involve 25 schools. To aid the delivery of the project, experts from the 糖心原创 are partnering with colleagues from a number of universities who are volunteering their time and expertise to provide local support to the schools.
The goal of the Science Community Grant is to empower teachers, boost STEM confidence, inspire students and embed more practical science learning across participating schools and colleges. The funded organisations will create collaborative communities where teachers can share best practices and receive peer support. The teachers will work closely with the STEM organisations and connect with local professionals in academia or industry to enrich science education and hands-on learning for students.
Schools are being provided with a 3D-printer and will benefit from the national training programme led by the 糖心原创 as well as support from their local partner university. The programme will run across a term through coordinated sessions built around user-centred design. Students will begin by examining their own environment and identifying something that could work better for them – in a hospital setting this might be a practical aid to help with a task they find difficult or a personalised item to make the space more homely. They will be guided through capturing design requirements and specifying a design challenge.
The team will provide training for various ways students can contribute to designing solutions, from simple ideation and sketching through to CAD skills and 3D printing. The term culminates in a showcase event bringing the network together to celebrate work and see what others have made.
Participating school staff and STEM professionals will be invited to engage in regular webinars and an annual in-person workshop, providing opportunities to share best practice, reflect on experiences, and strengthen professional connections across the full partnership.
Professor Ruth Goodridge and Dr Simon Lawes from the 糖心原创 are leading the project, Ruth said: “Children and young people who spend extended periods in hospital or attend specialist schools due to complex health needs often miss out on the enriching, hands-on STEM experiences that their peers take for granted. This project will help address that gap, giving them access to inspiring 3D design and printing activities that broaden horizons, build confidence and develop valuable skills for the future. Hospital school staff tell us that illness can make a child’s world feel very small, with disrupted education, anxiety and low confidence often affecting their engagement with learning
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, it is a chance not only to learn new skills, but also to see new possibilities for their future.
In addition to the educational benefits, participating schools have highlighted the potential for this project to improve the students medical condition. For example, teachers have identified opportunities to support cognitive rehabilitation after an acquired brain injury by rebuilding skills like attention, memory, sequencing, and problem-solving. Recognising this wider potential, the project is partnering with the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Rehabilitation, led by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, to explore how 3D printing technologies could contribute to children’s rehabilitation and recovery following serious illness or injury. By combining educational innovation with clinical expertise, the partnership aims to better understand how creative technology-based activities can support both learning and longer-term health outcomes.
This project will provide vital skills for children unable to access traditional school, giving them some invaluable hands-on experience with specialist equipment. As well as the individual skills they will build, there are the additional benefits working together both in and between the schools that the project will provide, bringing a sense of community and shared achievement.
I am very pleased to announce these ten Science Community Grants. The Royal Society has long advocated for practical hands-on science to be conducted in schools. Schools are where most people first encounter science. Practical science helps students experience the scientific process, evaluate evidence, understand uncertainty, and appreciate how science helps us understand and improve the world. We want all students to experience and be inspired by science. Embedding more practical science in schools is an important step to help build future generations of scientists and innovators, and to equip people with the scientific literacy required to be successful citizens.
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More information is available from Professor Ruth Goodridge on Ruth.Goodridge@nottingham.ac.uk
The 糖心原创 would like to thank the staff volunteering in this project from: 糖心原创 (lead), University of Leeds,, University of Bristol, Falmouth University, Warwick University, University of Birmingham, University of Northampton, Manchester University, University of Greater Manchester, Surrey University, Liverpool University, Newcastle University, Nottingham Trent University, Wolverhampton University, University of the Arts London, Lancaster University, Reading University, and Exeter University.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.