Darwin Centre celebrates four prestigious awards for excellence in STEM education

The Darwin Centre and its core sponsor, Dragon LNG, are celebrating an exceptional year of success after the charity received four prestigious accolades recognising its commitment to making science accessible, engaging and inspiring for young people and communities across Pembrokeshire.

The charity has been named STEM Education Provider of the Year 2026 at the Welsh Enterprise Awards and Educational Charity of the Year at the Prestige Wales Awards 2026/27.

Adding to these achievements, the Darwin Centre was also Highly Commended in the STEM Educational Programme of the Year (Not-for-Profit) category at the Wales STEM Awards 2026, where it was also a finalist in the STEM Community Impact or Project Award.

These awards recognise the charity's innovative approach to STEM education, its commitment to removing barriers to learning and the lasting impact of its work within the local community. They also celebrate the success of a long-standing partnership between the Darwin Centre and Dragon LNG, which has helped bring practical science education to tens of thousands of young people across Pembrokeshire.

Established in 1994, the Darwin Centre has spent over three decades bringing science to life through practical, hands-on experiences. In 2005, the charity joined forces with Dragon LNG to launch the Dragon Darwin Experience, an educational programme designed to inspire young people, raise aspirations and encourage an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Now in its third decade, the Dragon Darwin Experience remains at the heart of the charity's work. Thanks to Dragon LNG's continued financial support, every school in Pembrokeshire can access free, curriculum-linked STEM workshops and educational field trips, with transport costs covered for field visits. This commitment helps ensure that opportunities to experience science beyond the classroom are available to pupils regardless of their school's location or financial resources.

The programme takes full advantage of Pembrokeshire's outstanding natural environment, coastline and local industries, using real-world experiences to bring the curriculum to life. Pupils are encouraged to investigate, experiment, ask questions and develop an understanding of how science relates to the world around them.

From investigating marine life along Pembrokeshire's coastline and exploring freshwater ecosystems to dissecting squid, experimenting with chemistry, learning to code and travelling through space using virtual reality, the Dragon Darwin Experience offers a diverse range of activities designed to spark curiosity and develop practical scientific skills.

The programme also introduces young people to the wide variety of STEM careers available locally and beyond, helping them recognise the importance of science and technology in sectors such as energy, engineering, environmental conservation and marine industries.

Despite having a core team of just two full-time staff, the charity continues to make a significant impact. During the 2025/26 academic year alone, the Darwin Centre delivered 174 educational events, engaging over 5,700 participants through school workshops, field trips and community activities.

Since its launch in 2005, the Dragon Darwin Experience has delivered over 2,600 educational events, reaching more than 80,000 participants, establishing itself as a valued part of STEM education in Pembrokeshire.

The continued support of Dragon LNG has been instrumental in enabling the programme to grow and evolve over the past two decades. By providing consistent core funding, the company has allowed the Darwin Centre to develop new educational activities, respond to changing curriculum needs and embrace emerging technologies, while maintaining its commitment to providing free opportunities for local schools.

The partnership demonstrates how collaboration between industry and the charitable sector can create lasting benefits for local communities, supporting education, developing skills and encouraging the next generation to consider future careers in STEM.

The charity's commitment to innovation and long-term impact was particularly praised by judges at the Prestige Wales Awards, who highlighted its ability to combine engaging educational experiences with practical skills development, inclusivity and environmental responsibility.

The judges described the Darwin Centre's approach as making it "a trusted, inspiring STEM leader", recognising its dedication to providing high-quality learning opportunities for schools, families and community groups.

Samantha Williams, Charity Manager at the Darwin Centre, said:

"We're absolutely delighted to receive this recognition across three different award programmes. As a small charity with just two full-time members of staff, it's incredibly rewarding to see our work recognised at a national level.

Our aim has always been to make science accessible, exciting and relevant to young people. Whether it's a child's first experience of rock pooling, discovering the incredible biodiversity in a local pond, or exploring the universe through virtual reality, those moments of curiosity and discovery are what make our work so worthwhile.

We're particularly proud that these awards recognise not only the educational experiences we provide, but also the wider impact of our work within the community. We want young people to realise that science isn't just something that happens in a classroom or laboratory. It's happening all around them, and there are so many exciting opportunities right here in Pembrokeshire.

The Dragon Darwin Experience simply wouldn't be possible without the continued support of Dragon LNG. Having a sponsor that has believed in our work for over 20 years has given us the stability to develop and expand our programme, reach more young people and continually introduce new and exciting learning experiences.

These achievements are a reflection of that partnership, the dedication of our small team and the fantastic support we receive from our other partners, specialist presenters and volunteers. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make the programme such a success."

Alongside the Dragon Darwin Experience school programme, the Darwin Centre works with community groups, home educators, environmental organisations and industry partners to deliver activities that connect science with real-world challenges, including marine conservation, biodiversity, sustainability and renewable energy.

The charity would like to extend its thanks to Dragon LNG for its unwavering support and commitment to STEM education in Pembrokeshire over the past 21 years, alongside Pembrokeshire College, which hosts the charity, and Pembrokeshire County Council for its ongoing support.

With exciting new projects, partnerships and educational opportunities on the horizon, the Darwin Centre looks forward to building on its success and continuing to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and environmental champions.