Over the last decade the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 [1] has made several special awards in support of the British Science Association. These include funding for keynote lectures by promising young scientists at British Science Festivals in York, Liverpool and Surrey; a grant towards learning events reaching over 400 children and young people in Bradford; and funding for a Design prize at the National Science + Engineering Competition between 2011-2012.

Through these grants the Commission (@royalcom1851 [2]) has promoted excellence and engagement at various levels : supporting young working scientists to present their work to the public, bright secondary school pupils to aspire to and achieve national recognition; and younger children to discover that science, technology engineering and maths can be truly exciting...