The University of Nottingham has been awarded funding to bring 3D design and printing into hospital education in England, with an initial 25 schools set to receive equipment and staff training.
The award 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 long stays in hospital.
Three-year programme with hospital education body
The three-year project is being carried out with the National Association for Hospital Education (NAHE). Engineers and scientists from universities around the country are supporting the work, which aims to give school staff the 3D design and printing skills needed to run hands-on projects.
Under the plan, the first 25 schools will each be provided with a 3D printer alongside a national training programme led by Nottingham with support from local partner universities. The programme is to run across a term in coordinated sessions built around user-centred design, culminating in a showcase event. Students will be invited to draw inspiration from their environment and identify product designs that could work better for them.
Royal Society highlights practical science
Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society, said schools are where most people first encounter science, and that practical work helps students experience the scientific process, evaluate evidence, understand uncertainty and appreciate how science helps explain and improve the world. He said the goal is for all students to experience and be inspired by science, adding that embedding more practical science in schools is an important step towards building future generations of scientists and innovators and equipping people with the scientific literacy needed to be successful citizens.
Rehabilitation research link
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 for complex health needs often miss out on the enriching, hands-on STEM experiences their peers take for granted. She said the project is meant to address that gap by giving them access to 3D design and printing activities that broaden horizons, build confidence and develop valuable skills for the future.
Goodridge 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. In her view, 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, and a chance to see new possibilities for their future.
The NIHR HealthTech Research Centre for Rehabilitation, led by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, is partnering on 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 hands-on experience with specialist equipment. He added that beyond the individual skills, there are additional benefits from working together within and between schools, bringing a sense of community and shared achievement.