Digital Healthcare: A vehicle for capacity building in ICT skills and public engagement

The COVID pandemic has popularised many concepts from computer science and mathematics. Phrases such as computer models and uncertainty are increasingly in the public eye. It is therefore timely to pursue a programme of activities designed to increase confidence in the use of computer models, using challenges from healthcare as a motivator. Centred in Birmingham, the UKs youngest and most diverse city, our programme of activities will inspire and capacity build digital skills confidence in a civic region where 28% of children live in income deprived households. At a time when there is increasing demand for digital skills, it is vital that we inspire and provide meaningful opportunities for diverse young people to develop an interest in ICT careers early on. If this foundation is not nurtured to begin with, the digital skills gap widens and so too does youth unemployment, social immobility and inflexibility of the future workforce.

This grant will bring together people with backgrounds in research, performance and visual arts, engagement professionals and people with lived experience of disease. These individuals will create hands-on skills development activities for young people aged 11-16. They will work in teams in the inspirational Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum setting to 'solve' these challenges through a series of workshops, hackathons and a public showcase. Paid SMQB work experience placements will also be offered to students, enabling them to shadow university researchers and professional services staff. Participation will be incentivised through reducing access barriers and rewarding involvement. This will access to inspirational follow-on STEM activities for young people and their families to enjoy together. Our vision is to ensure that young people view computer science careers as diverse, valuable, attainable and fulfilling.

A secondary objective to increase public engagement skills in ICT researchers. Researchers involved in our activities will grown confidence and experience in public engagement. Further, they will share their learning with the wider ICT community in a national symposium. Collectively this will help create an ecosystem where public engagement is viewed as meaningful, impactful and integral to high-quality research.