This report showcases a three month snapshot of community engagement projects that took place during Spring 2023. Sixteen Science and Discovery Centres worked in partnership with local communities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to reach young people and families who are often marginalised or underserved in Science Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) engagement. They aimed to support participants to explore STEM on their terms in fresh, inclusive, and exploratory ways, and to nurture a sense of belonging and agency for people who may not feel that UK science, technology, research and innovation has relevance or benefit for them, or their communities.
These projects were funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), working in partnership with ASDC to put audiences at the centre of STFC public engagement.
Watch the highlights video:
"We are incredibly proud to mark over a decade of successful collaboration between STFC and ASDC with these excellent results. In order for UK science and innovation to thrive, it is essential that communities who are underrepresented in the STEM sector are engaged with the amazing stories that the science and technology community has to tell. These collaborations between STFC, ASDC, and community groups, young people, and families have inspired people across the UK to take an active role in science and provided fantastic opportunities for the benefit of all of society."
Neville Hollingworth, STFC Public Engagement Manager
The Valuing Inclusion programme follows on from the work highlighted in the Inclusion Handbook, part of the ASDC Explore Your Universe STEM engagement programme, also funded by the Science Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to inspire a new sense of excitement amongst young people around the physical sciences and amazing stories and technologies of STFC.
