The Future Is Local: How Two Exeter Scientists Are Reimagining Discovery for Devon

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Alice Mills and Dr Natalie Whitehead, co-founders of the Exeter Science Centre, to explore how two physicists turned their passion for public engagement into a grassroots movement for science, sustainability, and community connection in the South West.

Together, we talk about:

• How a chance conversation between two physicists sparked the idea for a new kind of science centre.
• Why hands-on discovery and local relevance matter for tackling global challenges like climate change.
• The innovative Living Wall project in collaboration with the University of Plymouth, and what it’s teaching us about biodiversity, wellbeing, and urban cooling.
• Citizen-science projects including the Citizen Phage Library and Freshwater Watch, empowering schools and local communities to monitor water quality and discover new bacteriophages.
• The vision for future Exeter Science Centres as cultural and scientific hubs: spaces where art, science, and community come together to imagine a better future.
• And their hopes for a greener, more connected Exeter that leads the way in climate action and public engagement with science.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Exeter Science Centre – official site, newsletter signup, and volunteer opportunities https://www.exetersciencecentre.org
• Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) – UK network of 50+ science centres https://www.sciencecentres.org.uk
• Citizen Phage Library – information on phage discovery and antibiotic-resistance research https://www.citizenphagelab.com
• Freshwater Watch – global citizen-science programme monitoring water quality https://freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org
• Positive Tipping Points Research (University of Exeter) – studies on how collective actions create systemic change https://positivetippingpoints.com
• University of Plymouth – Living Wall Research https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/livingwalls

Follow Exeter Science Centre on

• Instagram: @ExeterScienceCentre
• X / Twitter: @ExeterSciCentre