Earlier July 2025, we had the pleasure of joining the Physics Partners Teachers’ Festival at Winchester College—a fantastic one-day event bringing together physics teachers, technicians and educators from across the UK. 

Set in the beautiful grounds of Winchester College, the festival gave us the opportunity to speak directly with teachers about the real-world applications of photonics—and how it can help them engage pupils in physics with hands-on classroom demos, exciting research stories, and clear links to STEM careers. 

CORNERSTONE’s stand, run by Emily Crawshaw and Pearl John, was packed with interactive demonstrations and colourful teaching resources. From laser beams transmitting music to invisible water beads and silicon photonics chips, the stand drew curiosity, conversation and lots of follow-up interest. 

Emily’s Cleanroom to Classroom Story 

A real highlight was hearing Emily speak about her work as a Public Engagement and Research Technician at the University of Southampton. With a background in cleanroom fabrication and a passion for outreach, Emily gave teachers a glimpse into how photonics research happens—while showing how her silicon chips and wafers can be used to make cutting-edge science relatable in the classroom. 

One of her demo chips (encased in a keyring) proved so popular it disappeared from the table… a sign, perhaps, of how compelling the technology is once it’s seen up close. 

The response was enthusiastic. Every single teacher we spoke to asked for a follow-up pupil workshop, and the majority also expressed interest in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training. Some had never heard of photonics before; by the end of the day, they were planning how to bring it into their next lesson. 

Why Events Like This Matter 

For us, the festival was a reminder that photonics isn’t just for university labs—it belongs in every physics classroom. And when teachers are given accessible tools and real examples, they run with it. 

We were especially pleased to connect with schools from a broad mix of communities, including those with high levels of disadvantage and those working with neurodiverse students. Our outreach aims to support all teachers in making science more inclusive and engaging—and this event helped strengthen those links. 

 It was a joy to be part of the day. Huge thanks to Physics Partners for hosting us and to every teacher who stopped by to talk, share ideas and explore the world of photonics with us.