STEM Communities
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Engineering and Environment
Abstract
The STEM Communities project aims to build a community of family scientists in the Northumberland area by using STFC Science and Technology blended with local heritage. The project targets families with children aged 8-11 from schools in the area local to Woodhorn Mining Museum. These families sit within the STFC Wonder Initiative audience demographic: young people aged 8 to 14 and their families and carers, from the 40% most socio-economically deprived areas of the UK.
The project uses a multi-disciplinary approach to develop and deliver workshops that are tailored to the lived experiences of the children and their families. STFC science and technology and local heritage will be blended to create coherent, compelling, and enjoyable workshops. The project will also work with the family unit. This approach allows for the development of interest and curiosity in STEM topics and encourages participation.
The project will be delivered in four stages. The first two stages will cover the breadth of STFC science and technology supported by STFC scientists and blend these with key topics in local heritage. These workshops will set the stage for further enquiries in stages 3 and 4. These next stages aim to listen, respond, and facilitate the community's emerging interests rather than pre-define them. As the community identifies STEM topics for further enquiry, the delivery team will use their knowledge of STEM fields, existing contacts and networks to make connections and facilitate these further enquiries.
The STEM Communities project aims to empower the community group to make their own decisions, follow their own interests, and explore the science and heritage that matters to them. The project partners will provide support, but the community group will have ownership of the project activities, setting the direction of exploration. The ethos of the project is based on NUSTEM's experience of recent STFC funded community engagement, and the direction of the STFC's Wonder initiative.
The project uses a multi-disciplinary approach to develop and deliver workshops that are tailored to the lived experiences of the children and their families. STFC science and technology and local heritage will be blended to create coherent, compelling, and enjoyable workshops. The project will also work with the family unit. This approach allows for the development of interest and curiosity in STEM topics and encourages participation.
The project will be delivered in four stages. The first two stages will cover the breadth of STFC science and technology supported by STFC scientists and blend these with key topics in local heritage. These workshops will set the stage for further enquiries in stages 3 and 4. These next stages aim to listen, respond, and facilitate the community's emerging interests rather than pre-define them. As the community identifies STEM topics for further enquiry, the delivery team will use their knowledge of STEM fields, existing contacts and networks to make connections and facilitate these further enquiries.
The STEM Communities project aims to empower the community group to make their own decisions, follow their own interests, and explore the science and heritage that matters to them. The project partners will provide support, but the community group will have ownership of the project activities, setting the direction of exploration. The ethos of the project is based on NUSTEM's experience of recent STFC funded community engagement, and the direction of the STFC's Wonder initiative.