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8 January 2018 Abingdon Science Partnership (ASP) is heavily involved in many exciting, local and national projects to engage schools and the community with science. Ten local primary schools are now part of the Ogden Trust Abingdon Primary Science Partnership and around 60 primary school teachers have received science training from the Ogden Trust in the Science Partnership Laboratory at Abingdon School in recent months. ASP is also officially supporting primary schools in Bicester, Botley, Newbury and Swindon, that are part of the nationally funded Polar Explorer Programme. This is designed to highlight the future polar science missions of the Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, due for launch in 2018. Secondary schools in the area are benefitting from ASP’s status as a hub for the Institute for Research in Schools. Sixth form pupils from five schools in Abingdon are taking part in the Wellcome Trust’s Genome Decoders project and Abingdon School pupils are presenting research results at the recent CERN@ School Symposium at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Preparations are now well underway for a number of school and family events at Abingdon’s ATOM Festival of Science and Technology 2018, such as the ‘Amazing Earth from Space’ primary science fair project, recently launched in the Science Partnership Lab by Chris Duff of the Satellite Applications Catapult, part of the Harwell Campus. Abingdon Science Partnership Abingdon does battle with St Helen’s Despite a 4-1 defeat to St Helen’s in the annual lacrosse match, the boys were determined in opposition. Community Service Tea Party More than 80 Abingdon residents came to our Christmas tea party. The brass band and gospel choir created a festive mood and everyone enjoyed the seasonal quiz and raffle.