Science Museum Group Expands STEM Badge to Publishing and Interactive ProductsScience Museum Group Expands STEM Badge to Publishing and Interactive Products

The Science Museum Group is set to expand its STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) badge program in 2025, broadening its reach to include publishing and new interactive science products. Designed to highlight toys and games that embody scientific principles and promote learning through play, the STEM badge reflects the Group’s commitment as a STEM ambassador.

As part of this initiative, the Group has entered into a three-year licensing deal with children’s book publisher Farshore. This partnership will see the release of the first-ever Science Museum Annual in August. Known for their expertise in children’s annuals, Farshore has collaborated with renowned brands such as Disney, Minecraft and Pokémon. The space-themed annual will incorporate puzzles, games and experiments, offering children engaging opportunities to explore science.

Science Museum Space Annual 2025, Farshore

The first interactive lighting product to carry the STEM badge, a 3” Mini Plasma Ball by new licensee Funtime Gifts, is already available at W.H. Smith and Waterstones. The full product range will debut in early 2025, featuring STEM badge packaging to underline each item’s scientific basis. This collection includes materials science toys like slime and putty, alongside an array of eight lighting products, including the Plasma Ball in five sizes (up to 14”), the Fibre Optic Lamp, the Tornado Lamp, the Energy Stick, the Infinity Mirror, the Volcano Lamp, the Night Sky Projector and the Sunlight Jar.

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This expansion builds on the Group’s legacy of engaging children with science through play, which dates back to the opening of the first Children’s Gallery in 1931. The Group recently launched its first licensed stage production, "Science Museum: The Live Stage Show," with Mark Thompson Productions in 2024. Following a sold-out U.K. tour, the show will embark on a second tour from February to October, bringing hands-on experiments and spectacular demonstrations to family audiences nationwide. Dates and venues for the upcoming tour will be announced soon.

Exploding balloon in "Science Museum The Live Stage Show."

“The Science Museum Group’s deep expertise in engagement with science through play inspired the creation of the STEM badge, providing families with a reassuring mark for toys and games that encourage children to learn about scientific principles while also having fun,” says Amy Harbour, head, licensing and commercial partnerships, Science Museum Group. “We are delighted to be extending that scientific learning to even more products, working with our new licensee partners, Farshore and Funtime Gifts, to produce the first Science Museum Annual and launch a new range of products.”

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“Farshore’s aim is to inspire reading for pleasure, and we are really excited to be working with the Science Museum Group on the creation of their first ever Annual, which will give children lots of fun, as well as engaging them in opportunities for science learning,” says Emma Cairns-Smith, global licensing acquisition director, Farshore.

“Funtime Gifts have been supplying the Toy and Gift trade for over forty years,” says Jack Prendergast, managing director, Funtime Gifts. “Our new partnership with the Science Museum Group extends our reach into the educational toy space, and we are looking forward to launching our full range of products in 2025.”