Exploring Extreme Environments
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Engineering and Environment
Abstract
Exploring Extreme Environments brings together STFC-funded scientists, artists and public engagement experts to provide ongoing and sustained engagement with children, young people and families. The science focuses is STFC work with a particular focus on solar physics and planetary science through earth observation in remote (cold) locations: the extreme environments of the title. Over the course of three years, children in eight primary schools, their teachers and families, will meet professionals from both the arts and sciences to learn about how we can 'look at' extreme environments; from the intense heat of the Sun's corona to the sub-zero conditions of Antarctica. Sessions will be targeted across the whole age range of the school, starting with storytime sessions for children aged 3 - 4, assemblies and workshops for children aged 7 - 12, and after-school family activity sessions based on STFC funded work in extreme environments. Teachers will also receive CPD sessions linking the curriculum to STFC science and careers. Story-time sessions will take place in local cultural venues to support families with young children to become confident in talking about science and technology together using extreme environments.
The project will foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between poet Katrina Porteous and researchers at Northumbria University to explore the use of Earth Observation satellites in viewing and understanding remote and extreme environments. Katrina Porteous will also work with composer Peter Zinovieff to create a poetry and sound performance drawing on research data from Antarctica. This work will be performed by Katrina Porteous at three different literary and cultural events. A booklet containing the poems and the science will be created to provide an ongoing legacy of the collaboration for both attendees at the performances, and for the teachers. This collaboration will inspire the co-creation and delivery of cross-curricular literacy and science workshops for the primary school pupils.
The project also develops public engagement capacity within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment at Northumbria University through a programme of science communication training and collaboration in workshop development and delivery.
The project will foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between poet Katrina Porteous and researchers at Northumbria University to explore the use of Earth Observation satellites in viewing and understanding remote and extreme environments. Katrina Porteous will also work with composer Peter Zinovieff to create a poetry and sound performance drawing on research data from Antarctica. This work will be performed by Katrina Porteous at three different literary and cultural events. A booklet containing the poems and the science will be created to provide an ongoing legacy of the collaboration for both attendees at the performances, and for the teachers. This collaboration will inspire the co-creation and delivery of cross-curricular literacy and science workshops for the primary school pupils.
The project also develops public engagement capacity within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment at Northumbria University through a programme of science communication training and collaboration in workshop development and delivery.
Publications
Davenport C
(2021)
How can we widen career aspirations for the next generation
Davenport C
(2021)
Inclusive teaching in science:changing culture and practice
in Primary Science
| Title | Under the Ice |
| Description | Sound and poetry performance created by Katrina Porteous and Peter Zinovieff. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | Performed in virtual event on 23rd June. Audience comments include: "Amazing Katrina and Peter - so perfect for a near winter solstice here in Melbourne. The music is timeless - a convergence of past and present forms and tonalities. Katrina your words are so evocative and beautiful for their description of landscape, observation and scientific process. A profound and affective contribution to creative Antarctica." "Feels as if we're listening to the planet's inner monologue" "Everything about this is superb - sound, images, poems, delivery by Katrina...what an honour to experience." |
| URL | https://wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/an-evening-with-katrina-porteous/ |
| Title | Under the Ice - Berwick Literary Festival |
| Description | Performance by Katrina Porteous as part of the Berwick Literary Festival. Organised by Katrina and not the project team. |
| Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Impact | None |
| Description | The cross-curricular collaborative nature of the Exploring Extreme Environments (E3) intervention was successful, building and developing existing relationships. Over the course of E3, academic research inspired new artistic outputs, creative collaborations and schools' engagement enabled researchers to view their work in new light and see the value to wider society, while good working relationships between collaborators have fostered ongoing partnerships and ways of working. E3 was had impacts in all four of the four intervention aims: (1) STFC research and facilities were showcased throughout the 3-year project. They inspired the development of resources and activities for children and family groups, and were used to spark inspiration for creative and performance pieces that in turn inspired new audiences with science. The STFC STEM Person of the Week tool, showcasing the work of STFC scientists was found to be of particular value. There were increases in participating teachers' knowledge of the STFC (+22%) and of science teaching resources (+14%). (2) Participating primary school teacher's confidence to teaching science increased over the course of the intervention. From baseline (2019) to end point (2021), improvements were found across all four elements of 'confidence': enjoyment of science (+16%), science teaching self-efficacy (+16%), and perceived relevance of science (+6%), anxiety to science teaching (-3%). Confidence levels were found to be higher among teachers in the study sample than among the general teaching population. (3) The evaluation found evidence to support a positive influence of the E3 project in some elements of science capital among children, although not all. The intervention showed an increase in children describing science as a 'positive experience', and a reduction in stereotypical descriptions of scientists. However, declines from baseline were found in the enjoyment of science, science self-efficacy and STEM aspiration categories. (4) The public engagement capacity of participating research and academics at the university was developed. Academics highlighted the benefit of the E3 programme in building communication skills, in understanding audiences and in developing public engagement strategies. Academics expressed motivation to continue public engagements beyond the project and that the project has inspired future public engagement projects. The project was evaluated within the framework of the STFC's Generic Learning Outcomes (GLOs) and found evidence of changes across all 5 of the GLO measures: that audiences have been inspired to do, feel, value, and understand things differently, and develop new skills. The E3 delivery period was during September 2018 - December 2021 and delivery was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic which also presented challenges for the evaluation of E3. The E3 project was adapted to a remote delivery model and evaluation modified appropriately. Despite the challenge caused by the pandemic, the majority of delivery and engagement targets were achieved. |
| Exploitation Route | The project showed the benefit of cross-curricular collaborative projects. It provides a model for school-based children and family interventions which showcase careers in STEM and strengthen children's science identity. Some of the individual activities could be adapted by other STEM engagement organisations and used in a similar community. |
| Sectors | Creative Economy Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
| URL | https://nustem.uk/e3/ |
| Description | The model of STEM intervention used in this project has been used as a blueprint for two other STEM Engagement projects in the North East of England. These projects used the sustained and comprehensive engagement model with a focus on careers in STEM to develop their outreach activities. In addition, the work 'Under the Ice' - which remains the IP of poet Katrina Porteous who wrote and performed it originally (along with sound by Peter Zinovieff) - is being performed by Katrina at poetry festivals and will form part of her next book. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural |
| Description | Chopwell stargazing |
| Organisation | AstroVentures |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Overall design and organisation of the stargazing event. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Specialist knowledge and equipment for outdoor astronomy. |
| Impact | Evening stargazing event for famillies at local school |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Imagining the Sun workshop |
| Organisation | Discovery Musuem |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Research team contributed science aspects of Imagining the Sun workshop |
| Collaborator Contribution | Discovery museum staff adapted the art aspects of the Imagining the Sun workshop |
| Impact | Engagement outputs - Imagining the Sun workshop. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Poetry and Sound Performance |
| Organisation | Wordsworth Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Worked with Poet Katrina Porteous and composer Peter Zinovieff to support the creation of a poetry and sound performance: Ice |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hosted online performace. Advertised the performance. |
| Impact | Poetry Performance. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Chopwell stargazing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Evening stargazing event for partner school open to families and local community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.chopwellprimary.org/art/ |
| Description | E3 Teacher CPD year 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Teacher CPD for year 1 of E3. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Encounters assembly |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Online Encounters assembly for schools |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Family Space Explorers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Storyreading and activity for nursery/reception children using 'Are we nearlly there yet?' book |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Family Space Explorers workshop 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Children's workshop using 'Are we nearly there yet?' storybook. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://nustem.uk/activity/e3-family-space-explorers/ |
| Description | Family Wind Turbine Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | After-school workshop in E3 partner schools for carers and children about the Princess Elizabeth Antarctica research station, and the use of renewable energies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://nustem.uk/activity/wind-energy-engineer/ |
| Description | ICE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Performance of the sound and poetry piece created by Katrina Porteous and Peter Zinovieff. Hosted online by Wordsworth Trust. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/an-evening-with-katrina-porteous/ |
| Description | Imagining the Sun Workshop 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Imagining the Sun workshop in 4 partner schools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Imagining the Sun Workshop 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Imagining the Sun workshop using artwork from Helen Schell. Workshop materials were delivered to the schools prior to the two session workshop and teacher facilitated the workshop whilst we delivered the sessions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Imagining the Sun workshops 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Imagining the Sun art/science workshop delivered to Year 3 children in partner primary schools. Exploring the layers of the sun and spectrography. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Polar to Solar Family workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Polar to Solar after school family workshop delivered for parents/carers and children at E3 primary schools. Looked at the Princess Elizabeth station in Antarctica and the use of wind power at the station. Attendees were mainly UKS2 pupils and families, but with a few LKS2 children as well. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Robots storytime |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Story time activity using 'Are we nearly there yet' and Robots, Robots books. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | STFC STEM Person of the Week - Year 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | First set of SPOTW cards featuring STFC people. 5 week teacher led activity helping children to think about the characteristics they share with people who work in STEM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Space workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Workshop about space for year 1 children. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Teacher CPD 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Teacher CPD for the second year of the E3 project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Telescope assembly |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Assembly about telescopes with a focus on STFC facilities |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Underneath the Ice 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Two session workshop linking poetry and science. Focus is on ice cores from antarctica. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://nustem.uk/activity/underneath-the-ice/ |
| Description | Underneath the Ice 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Underneath the ice workshop which linked poetry and polar physics. Included excerpts of poems written by Katrina Porteous. Mostly delivered online in 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Underneath the Ice workshops 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Delivery of Underneath the Ice workshop - a poetry/science workshop which explores the use of ice cores to date events in history. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Whole School Assembly (Year 1) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Introductory assembly about Exploring Extreme Environments. Introducing children and teachers to the extreme environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |