IB PYP Education
Academic Excellence | CIS × CREST Awards: Illuminating a Sustainable Future Through Scientific Inquiry
In CIS’s STEAM classes, students are busy conducting various inquiry-based experiments — from energy conversion devices to light and shadow illumination models — each project brimming with sparks of creativity.
Photos of STEAM classes in primary school.
Photos of STEAM classes in secondary school.
They use materials to build models and record every experimental step and conclusion. Through these hands-on activities, science is no longer an abstract concept but a real dialogue with technology.
It is precisely such educational practices that have made CIS one of the schools with a globally recognized science education certification system.
In September, CIS was officially accredited as a CREST Awards Licensed School by the British Science Association (BSA).
At the ESD2025 Education for Sustainable Development Conference and RAISE2025 Asia International Schools Conference, CIS received the official licensing plaque presented by the British Science Association.
This moment marks the point at which CIS students’ scientific inquiry achievements are officially aligned with international standards, stepping onto a globally recognized stage of science.
The CREST Awards is an authoritative youth STEM education program established by the British Science Association, with a history of 35 years. It currently operates in more than 30 countries worldwide and is officially recognized by the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Upon completing a certified project, students will receive an international certificate issued by the British Science Association —
Image source: Materials provided by the Skoo Planet CREST Awards Program.
Whether applying to universities in the UK, Canada, or Australia, this certificate serves as an international endorsement of a student’s academic strength.
At CIS, students complete the full CREST process under the guidance of their teachers — from topic selection and experimental design to project presentation. From inquiry to scientific communication, every experiment and report represents a genuine alignment with international standards.
Ms.Peggy Fok
• Educational Background:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (San Diego State University, USA)
• Educational Experience:
Over ten years of experience in international education.
Ms. Monica Mo
• Educational Background:
Bachelor’s Degree, South China Normal University
• Educational Experience:
Ten years of experience in international education.
CIS students will complete different levels of CREST projects according to their grade stages, gradually building both the depth and breadth of their scientific inquiry.
Classroom Kits Provided by CREST
Through a progressively structured learning pathway, students’ scientific abilities develop from “interest initiation” to “independent research,” achieving a seamless connection from classroom learning to international research standards.
Each academic year, CIS holds an Innovation Fair, where students showcase their thinking depth and creativity through scientific projects — from renewable energy designs and environmental devices to bridge load-bearing models and biomimetic structures. These works are extensions of their spirit of inquiry and hands-on skills.
With the introduction of CREST Awards, these innovative projects will no longer be confined to classroom or campus exhibitions but can receive international recognition and reach a broader stage.
In the future, CIS will continue to place “Academic Excellence and Caring Community” at the core of its education, enabling every child to find their own light on the journey of science and innovation — igniting learning with curiosity and shaping the future through creativity.