Privacy Policy

STEM Demystified is designed to be a safe, welcoming space for learners of all ages, including children. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who we are

STEM Demystified is operated by Juliana Smart-Frames.
Data Controller contact: juliana@smart-frames.co.uk

If you have any questions about how we handle your data, or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us at the address above.

What data we collect and why

We collect only the data you voluntarily provide when using our contact form:

• Name
• Email address
• Message content
• Your role (e.g. student, educator, parent)

This data is collected on the lawful basis of legitimate interests - specifically, to respond to your enquiry. We do not collect any data passively from visitors browsing the site.

We do not collect personal data from children. STEM Demystified does not require account creation or login to access any content.

How we use your data

Data submitted via the contact form is used solely to respond to your enquiry. We do not use it for marketing, share it with third parties, or add it to any mailing list without your explicit consent.

STEM Ambassadors and schools

STEM Demystified connects STEM professionals (Ambassadors) with schools through an opt-in visibility system. This section explains how personal data is handled within that feature.

Ambassador data

STEM Ambassadors control their own visibility entirely through their profile settings. By default, no ambassador data is visible to schools.

Ambassadors may choose to enable the following, each requiring a separate explicit opt-in:

• Profile visibility: the ambassador's name, STEM discipline, and profile information become searchable by school accounts.
• Virtual talk availability: the ambassador's email address is made visible to authenticated school accounts within their dashboard, for the sole purpose of making direct contact to arrange educational virtual sessions. All contact between schools and ambassadors takes place outside the STEM Demystified platform via email. STEM Demystified does not monitor, store, or have access to any communications between schools and ambassadors.

Ambassadors are shown their registered email address at the point of opting in, so they are fully aware of which data will be shared and with whom before enabling either setting.

Ambassadors may withdraw either consent at any time by updating their profile settings. On withdrawal, their data is immediately removed from the school-facing directory and their email address is no longer accessible to school accounts.

School data

School accounts may access ambassador profiles and, where explicitly consented to by the ambassador, their email address. Schools may use ambassador contact details only for the purpose of arranging educational virtual talks. Use of ambassador contact details for any other purpose is a violation of our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct.

Lawful basis

The sharing of ambassador email addresses with school accounts is carried out on the lawful basis of explicit consent (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(a)). This consent is granular, specific, and freely given - it is not a condition of using the platform.

Safeguarding information

Ambassadors may voluntarily declare whether they hold safeguarding / child protection training and a valid background check for working with children (such as a DBS check in the UK, an FBI background check in the US, or an equivalent police clearance certificate in other countries).

This information is:

• Self-declared by the Ambassador
• Not independently verified by STEM Demystified
• School accounts can see whether an Ambassador holds safeguarding training and a background check (yes/no only). The specific type, issuing body, or expiry date of any check is never shared with schools.
• Never shared with any third party
• Stored on the lawful basis of explicit consent, given via the application form consent checkbox

Ambassadors may update or remove their safeguarding declarations at any time from their profile settings.

Schools accessing Ambassador safeguarding information must use it solely to inform their own safeguarding procedures and must not share it outside their institution.

Application data

When you submit an Ambassador application, your data is stored securely and used only to process your application. No automated confirmation or decision emails are sent. To check the status of your application, contact juliana@smart-frames.co.uk quoting the email address you applied with.

Application data is retained for 12 months from the date of submission, after which it is securely deleted unless your application has been approved and an account created.

How long we keep your data

Contact form submissions are retained for no longer than 12 months from the date of receipt, after which they are securely deleted.

Cookies

We use only strictly necessary cookies required for the site to function. We do not use advertising, analytics, or third-party tracking cookies. No cookie consent banner is required as no non-essential cookies are in use.

Children's privacy

STEM Demystified is intended for use by children under adult supervision. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal data via our contact form, please contact us at juliana@smart-frames.co.uk and we will delete it immediately.

Third-party links

Story pages may reference or link to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies independently.

Data transfers

We do not transfer your personal data outside the United Kingdom.

Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data (“right to be forgotten”)
• Object to or restrict processing of your data
• Request a portable copy of your data
• Withdraw consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at juliana@smart-frames.co.uk. We will respond within one calendar month as required by UK GDPR.

How to complain

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's supervisory authority:

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Website: ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113

We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concern directly before you contact the ICO - please reach out to us first at juliana@smart-frames.co.uk.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any significant changes will be clearly indicated with an updated date below. Continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Last updated: 22/06/2026