The Fireworks CPBL activity will definitely continue into the future at the University of Bath in a similar format to the trial - i.e. as part of a non-credit bearing skills training programme. Some changes will be made, including: strengthened training of PhD students to unpick the difference between facilitation and demonstration; the production of demo videos of fireworks' professionals to complement and strengthen the activity resources; and the moving of the activity from semester two to semester one. The reason for these changes are outlined in the project report. 

The CPBL resources are all available online and this will ensure that it is easy for other HEIs to adopt the activity. There has been interest shown in the resources from several other HEIs - Durham, Reading and Southampton - indicating that the activity should continue and adapted by other institutions. The authors will continue to disseminate the activity to those who may find it useful and will have copies of the resources available to send to those who are interested.

A lot of the sustainability of this project is due to the resource itself and its design. However, the National HE STEM Programme funding has been essential in developing the project and in allowing it to stand on its own. The project has been designed to be undemanding on an institution’s budget. Aside from the initial cost of fireworks simulation software and the printing of paperwork for students, the resource does not require a great deal of expense.

Undertaking a curriculum development project can be time consuming for a department. Without the National HE STEM Programme, the research, organisation and design of the project would not have been done in a reasonable time frame. The key costs that helped the project were hiring a project officer and providing funding to visit industrial partners. Having a person dedicated to the research and development of the project and being able to meet with pyrotechnicians to gain information would not otherwise have been easy to manage.

If you would like further information about the project or its on-going legacy, please contact the project lead, Dr Gan Shermer, as below: