Research around science capital highlights that there isn’t a single place, action or experience alone that will help improve engagement and equity around STEM. Our booklet pulls together science engagement and science capital research to answer the question, what role can informal learning environments play?
When you think of a science museum, maths may not come to mind. Our museums go beyond science and tell stories from all aspects of STEM. In the second post of our ‘maths engagement’ series, Jess Sashaw unlocks the maths behind some of our collection themes.
At the beginning of 2020, we started a project to develop a maths engagement offer for the Science Museum group Academy. Jess Sashaw, Academy Programme Leader, has been looking at our learning offer, and in this post reflects on the importance and value of maths engagement.
In the latest ‘Out and About’, Maxwell Hamilton took his niece to Eureka! The National Children’s Museum. He shares how they were made to feel welcome, and how the experience encouraged science talk and helped them link STEM to their everyday lives.
In November, we hosted a Skills Fair for students aged 11-13 years at the Science Museum, London. Jess Sashaw, part of the team who developed and delivered the event, shares why we chose to base our fair on skills, rather than hosting a traditional careers fair.
Whilst working to embed a science capital approach across the Science Museum Group, we have also been sharing our experiences with universities, museums and science centres across the world. Sarah Callan, Science Museum Studies student, SUNY Oneonta University, NY, shares her cohort’s experience of applying the research to an informal education setting.
How did we develop a family activity trail for Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries at the Science Museum, London? Laurel Mackie, Content Programmer, Medicine Galleries, Science Museum, shares the process and key elements of the resource.
Maxwell Hamilton catches up with Frederike Gerstner, half of the ‘Ben and Fred’ duo who won the 2019 Josh Award for STEM communication. Find out how they created ‘The Juggling of Science’, and how they adapted it for the Science and Industry Museum’s half term crowd.
For the latest installment of ‘out and about’, Scout Davies explored the Yorkshire Museum. In this post she provides examples of exhibits and activities that help visitors feel welcome and confident to take part in the museum’s experiences.
This summer the Science and Industry Museum had a full programme of solar related shows and workshops to coincide with the new temporary exhibition ‘The Sun’. Maxwell Hamilton reflects on the application of science capital research in this programme of Explainer-led activities and beyond.
In September, the Explainer team at the Science and Industry Museum reflected on their current practice and refreshed their knowledge of science capital. This posts shares the good practice happening within their programme and the opportunities the science capital approach offers.
Bridget Holligan, Director of Education and Engagement, Science Oxford shares how Science Oxford have kicked off their ‘Science Capital in Practice’ grant with a training day exploring their existing understanding of science capital and how they will be integrating it into their programme.