...as Mike says, COPUS did try to join up working and information
sharing - with limited success. Various other efforts have taken place,
including one conceived but never flown by ETB (now Engineering UK) in
2003.
Hats off however to the Big Bang Fair (led and run through Engineering
UK with The British Science Association) which is attempting to create a
far-more joined up approach to STEM nationally as well as bringing some
much needed "glitz" and dare I say consumerism to the formal and
informal learning sector. http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/
Whilst I know that politics with a small p have dogged so much in this
sector, this might prove to be an interesting model for collaboration in
the future?
And finally, an overt plug for the STEM Directories - even if I was the
project manager from creation to the end of 2009!
www.stemdirectories.org.uk now has over 350 STEM enrichment and
enhancement activities for teachers and home educators and is a site
generally well liked by both the E&E and teacher communities. Again,
this is an interesting model for a starting point to ensure that both
providers of engagement opportunities and their customers - in this case
teachers - understand each other and also engage on development of the
STEM intervention or product for mutual benefit. I'm sure this model
could be replicated across public engagement areas - in fact, aren't the
Beacons charged with this very task?
Juliet
Juliet Upton
Independent Consultant
+44 (0)7811 440918
[log in to unmask]
Interim Head of Business Development
The Royal Institution
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicola Buckley
Sent: 19 February 2010 13:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Joined-up working and information sharing
Other consumers are those not in school - adults in the general
population. Diverse approaches in reaching those adults, perhaps through
arts activities, broadcast, festivals, activities in shopping centres
and all the rest, are likely to be effective. Because many of these
adults are not looking for science or engineering activities to engage
with in the first place. These diverse activities will also need to
network between themselves. I don't perceive too much duplication in
this area of outreach to adults - perhaps the greater challenge here is
understanding our audiences and reaching them effectively.
Aren't the STEM Directories a place to begin for school teachers?
http://www.stemdirectories.org.uk/
Nicky
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Kenward
Sent: 19 February 2010 12:58
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] Joined-up working and information sharing
Absolutely, especially this bit:
"The first step is surely to have information sharing and joined-up
working between activities of a common type or purpose, and a number of
our actions and recommendations are aimed at that (e.g. in the training
and development arena)."
One of my beefs has been the duplication that goes on. In the past too
many engineering bodies, for example, have run similar schemes aimed at
schools.
Fortunately, I sense that there is progress on that front.
On gaps, one point worth pondering is the needs of the "consumers".
If PESTs here don't know about everything that goes on in their area -
which, as Roland's report points out, is not easy - what hope is there
for the over worked school teacher? Where do they begin?
MK
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roland Jackson
Sent: 19 February 2010 09:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] Joined-up working and information sharing
Just to follow up Mike's comment, I think the glass is half full rather
than half empty, but ideas from this list as to how the glass could be
made fuller still would be very helpful.
As our report I hope demonstrates, if indeed it needed to be
demonstrated, the field of 'public engagement with the sciences' is
highly diverse.
Different people and different organisations of all sizes are involved
in activities with a wide variety of different (and sometimes
conflicting) purposes. New entrants appear all the time, and we also
need to recognise the competitive dimension (people are competing for
business and funding).
The first step is surely to have information sharing and joined-up
working between activities of a common type or purpose, and a number of
our actions and recommendations are aimed at that (e.g. in the training
and development arena). There are also specific organisations or
networks (national and
regional) that help bring people together and share knowledge and ideas
in particular aspects. Examples include (purely at random and not at all
exhaustive!) STEMNET, UK Science Festivals, National Science and
Engineering Week, the Beacons, Sciencewise Expert Resource Centre,
Association for Science and Discovery Centres, Association of British
Science Writers.
Then there are networks or activities that help join up the different
parts.
This email list is a good example, as is the Science Communication
Conference, the regional 'Science Alliances' and a number of individual
social networking sites.
Any thoughts on improving current systems, gaps that need filling, or
any other useful idea would be welcome.
Roland
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Michael Kenward
Sent: 18 February 2010 21:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] STEM Deliverers
I am just hitching a free ride on this discussion rather than accusing
anyone here of this particular shortcoming, but the comment that "That's
exactly what Hands-on-Science does" reminds me of one of the most
important findings, to my mind, in Roland Jackson's report for Lord
Drayson, "Science For All - Report And Action Plan From The Science For
All Expert Group".
The bit that hit me was the observation that "we discovered that there
was a significant lack of joined-up working and sharing between those
who are involved".
As someone who has banged on for years about people duplicating efforts
and not learning from one another - the "learned scientists" are
especially rubbish on that front - it was great to see this group making
the point so prominently.
Time and again people respond to questions here with pointers to similar
activities elsewhere. Understandable when there isn't any effort to
bring to all together.
Roland's report promises to follow up the recommendations. If it does no
more than connect people and promote "joined-up working and sharing",
horrible as the joined up phrase, a cliché of New Labour's early days,
is, then it will have taken PEST a great leap forward.
It was what COPUS was all about, but then there was a lot less to join
up.
So it is now a much larger challenge.
MK
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark Walton
Sent: 18 February 2010 20:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] STEM Deliverers
Dear Katie
That's exactly what Hands-on-Science does - develop and deliver fun but
educational workshops - I'll send more details off-list (You can find us
on science live too) best wishes Mark Walton Hands on Science Educating,
Inspiring, having fun with Science www.hands-on-science.co.uk 07710
087259
----- Original Message -----
From: "Natalie Broadhurst"
<[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] STEM Deliverers
Hi Katy
Try www.sciencelive.net
Thanks
Natalie
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Katy Evans
Sent: 18 February 2010 15:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [PSCI-COM] STEM Deliverers
Dear All,
I am looking for someone who can deliver a 'hands on' activity to
secondary schools, where students will be able to design, build and then
test a model.
We work with a number of schools across the UK to promote science,
technology, engineering and maths to help motivate young people to
consider courses and careers in these areas. I would appreciate if you
know of anyone
who can help in delivering an activity to a secondary school?
Kind Regards
Katy
[log in to unmask]
www.etrust.org.uk
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