Using the Arts within STEM teaching practices not only promotes creative learning; it nurtures ingenuity and provides a platform for artistic genius. It encourages effective teamwork and develops the social skills and confidence required to operate effectively in the workplace. It encourages an ability to make connections and a sense of curiosity and inquiry all of which are vital regardless of the business sector.
OUR VISION
To see an education system where teachers and students have the freedom to be creative across all subjects. Where cross-curricular learning is the norm. Where all learning styles are catered for, and the one size fits all model is abolished.
OUR MISSION
To get everyone 'Moving Science'. Whether you are a student, teacher, parent, researcher, lecturer, or policymaker. We aim to get everyone creatively exploring and engaging with STEM, through dance theatre, movement, and games.
OUR VALUES
FLUX moves science with everyone regardless of age, academic ability, gender, ethnicity, or social background. We celebrate creativity, diversity and individuality, this methodology is at the heart of our teaching and artistic practice.
About Us
FLUX continues to bring innovative STEM engagement and education projects to communities, schools and departments all over the UK. If you are interested in working with us, please get in touch.
“The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done.”
Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980)
Our Story
FLUX dance was founded in February 2012. The company's debut was at A.E Harris Building in Birmingham with the premiere of 'The Third Law' a contemporary dance performance exploring Newton's Laws of Motion. The company was initially supported by the Institute of Physics to tour this performance. Since then FLUX dance has produced a number of new works in collaboration with some of the UK's leading institutions.
In the same year, FLUX started our educational outreach projects. Having recently graduated from Coventry University, I took a summer teaching job at Bede's International School, where I taught children from several different nationalities dance. It is here where Moving Science was created! I realised linking movement with key vocabulary helped teach children English at a quick pace, not only were the students retaining the information, they were having fun while learning. Linking these kinaesthetic teaching practices with my knowledge of human developmental patterns has led me to produce a series of workshops where vocabulary, repetition, movement, gesture, and fun are integral to the continued success of the programme.
Since it's early evolution, FLUX's Moving Science has been developed alongside some of the UK's leading science institutions and supported by researchers, teachers and parents alike. It is at the forefront of 'STEAM' education and has been recognized by The British Science Association as an outstanding teaching practice. I have since been invited to speak at international education conferences offering insight and expertise about FLUX's continued contribution to this growing field. I am also honoured to be part of the Talent Factory - founded by Dr. Steve Cross, a sharing space and training platform for elite science communicators, to which I have met an inspiring group of colleagues..
FLUX's STEM Performers has been developed alongside the BSA to provide CREST Awards to students aged 11-16 as part of a research project combining Dance and Science.
In 2018 I began to be invited to input on a number of different creative education projects as an Education Consultant, bringing the years of experience to help develop new pedagogies and programs. In 2020 I have started to offer these services more broadly under FLUX|Ed Consultancy. This has enabled me to design a new curriculum for The National Citizens Service, develop training for STEM ambassadors at Network Rail and be part of The University of Warwick's research project, Play Code Share, which is developing new ways of embedding arts practices into the Computer Science GCSE curriculum. I have also been privileged to lecture at Worcester University to the Dance students on building their own professional practices and networks.
To date, I am investing some time to complete an MA in Education - focusing on creative education policy at the University of Warwick. In the hopes that this study will further develop and scope and reach of FLUX. This has only been made possible by the dedication of my team and in particular my wonderful Project Manager Steph.
FLUX continues to Move Science across the UK, through our compelling public engagement work, science communication coaching, Moving Science workshops, and our all-new Sci Comm scheme. We are small but mighty and passionate about creative education. FLUX has grown into something I would have never imagined and we continue to develop and improve our practice, collaborating with leading scientific researchers and educators.
~ CHARLOTTE HALE
FOUNDER FLUX
"Working with FLUX has been a joy. They’ve been the perfect creative partner for us – engaging and responsive, it’s been easy and fun to put together a really unique dance event based on our research. They worked really well with our researchers, all of whom came away raving about the process, and with a deeper understanding of how we can more creatively engage the public with our research”
~ Brian Mackenwells
Public Engagement Officer The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics - The UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Imperial Festival
British Science Fringe Festival
British Science Festival
Oxford Science Festival
Cheltenham Science Festival
Green Man Festival
IET Faraday BBC Micro:bit projects (London, Swindon, Warwick, Newcastle, Glasgow, Belfast)
Science Showoff - Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Science Showoff - Bluedot Festival
The Big Bang Fair West Midlands and London Events
Your Future Your Ambition
Bohunt Science Festival
Stemettes 1st Birthday Party
Technopop
NE Digital Girls
Iris Project - Oxford
Malvern Festival of Innovation
Woking Theatre
The World Skills Show
The London Maritime Museum
STEMsational Princes Trust Event
Intel Head Office
National Railway Museum (York)
Ragley Hall - Scouts and Guides UK
Warwick University Science Gala
Library Lates - Bodleian Library Oxford
Royal Opera House Bridge Conference 2016
MARCH (Making Science Real in Schools) British Science Association 2016
British Science Festival STEM in Education 2015
Birmingham Open Media (BOM) 2015
The British Science Association
The Institution of Engineering and Technology
Science Showoff
The University of Oxford
The Princes Trust
O2
Steve Cross - The Talent Factory
Intel
The Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics - University of Oxford
The Radcliffe Department of Medicine - University of Oxford
IMechE & IET 2018 EEGS
The University of Warwick
Heart of England Community Foundation
Arts Council England
“I wanted to write and thank you for your wonderful performances at the Festival on Tuesday. I was fortunate enough to catch some of both of them, and thought they were mesmerising. Walking round the festival, I had so many comments from visitors about how wonderful your performance was, as well as some visitors who told me they had specifically booked for Grayling so that they could also see you perform!
Thank you very much for performing, and for being so flexible and accommodating in the run-up to the event and on the day itself. I've never organised an event as large as this before, and it was certainly a learning curve, and very busy day as well - but it was wonderful to see some of your performances as well as to hear all the warm and positive comments about them from visitors."
~ Dr Lorna Robinson
Director, The Iris Project & Classics Centre at Cheney
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TED TALKS CREATIVE Education
TED Talks are a great way to join the discussion on why creativity in education is so important. We know that there is a skills gap and we need more students studying STEM in further and higher education. But we need to not forget that importance the arts has when considering the skills our students need for the future. Below is possibly one of the the most famous 'creative education' seminars from Ken Robinson. You can find more in our BLOG, we try and post links to views we are listening to.