Science Hunters: Space missions in Minecraft

Led by Science Communication Unit’s Dr Laura Hobbs and funded by a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Spark Award, this project uses the well-established Science Hunters approach to introduce children from under-represented groups to space exploration and engage them with learning about STFC facilities, using Minecraft. An integral part of the project involves working with STFC’s RAL Space to link to their science, technology, facilities, people and careers. Partnership delivery at public engagement activities at Harwell Science and Innovation campus includes RAL’s Family Science day and Summer Stargazing solar eclipse event.

Delivery is currently underway for schools, community groups and public engagement events. 

Publications and presentations

• Reigniting learning using Minecraft: Examples from Earth science. School Science Review.
• Working together to engage children with space missions in Minecraft. EDULearn 2026 Proceedings.
• Space missions in Minecraft for children from underserved communities. Communicating Astronomy with the Public conference.
• Using Minecraft in education: Exploring space, geoscience and society. European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2026.

More information

Free resources developed as legacy outputs for the project will appear here as they become available.

For more information, please contact sciencehunters@uwe.ac.uk.