Science report may ‘unlock resources’
Survey shows that museums and science centres can reach out and engage disadvantaged children and under-represented audiences. By Gareth Harris
A government-commissioned report focusing on how UK science centres and museums engage under-represented groups could prove “highly significant and may unlock serious resources”, says Nick Winterbotham, the chairman of the Group for Education in Museums.
Compiled by the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), the report includes 22 case studies that demonstrate how science institutions “effectively engage people of all backgrounds in all parts of the UK with science”, says Penny Fidler, ASDC’s chief executive, in its introduction.
Three groups under-represented in the science, technology, engineering and maths sector come under scrutiny in the survey: schoolchildren and families from socio-economically disadvantaged areas; schoolchildren and families from a range of ethnic backgrounds; and women in physics and engineering.
Significantly, the report was commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS).
Museums Journal understands that the DBIS may provide up to £20m in funding for a campaign aimed at encouraging under-represented groups, especially women, to seek jobs in science and engineering, but the DBIS declined to comment.
A DBIS statement said: “The government is keen to increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics diversity, and the range of groups engaging with science and engineering.”
Dire need
Winterbotham endorsed the research and says the report is urgently needed: “It is a poor reflection of our national support for science engagement that the UK is having to play catch-up when compared with dozens of other countries, many of them emerging economies.”
Fifteen of the case studies focus on engaging diverse audiences from “socio-economically challenged backgrounds” and different ethnic groups.
Alex Burch, the director of learning at the Science Museum Group, describes how the Science Museum in London has, for example, implemented a “partner London boroughs” strategy to attract new audiences from areas such as Southwark and Brent.
Meanwhile, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre at the University of Manchester has launched a Girls’ Night Out women-only event featuring discussions with engineers and astrophysicis.
“The case studies will be a useful resource for others looking to establish ‘what works’ and, importantly, to allow future initiatives to build on the excellent work that is already out there and identify potential partners,” says Anna Zecharia, a director at the non-profit ScienceGrrl organisation, which supports women in science.
Yasmin Khan, an independent cultural adviser, says the rationale of the report, which should be commended, is relevant to the wider museum sector.
“But it misses the opportunity to make a call to action for science centre staffing to reflect the demographic of their local constituencies across the ranks,” she adds.
Digital engagement
The report includes an overview of how science engagement organisations strive to reach audiences through online devices such as e-learning resources and bespoke science videos.
It highlights an innovative digital scheme at the At-Bristol Science Centre where visitors use barcodes, encrypted on wristbands, that store photographs and other data. This material can be retrieved at a later date.
“Digital and social media play a vibrant role in everything that we all do, as part of reaching all of our audiences,” Fidler says.
Links
News analysis on the future of the Science Museum Group
Compiled by the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), the report includes 22 case studies that demonstrate how science institutions “effectively engage people of all backgrounds in all parts of the UK with science”, says Penny Fidler, ASDC’s chief executive, in its introduction.
Three groups under-represented in the science, technology, engineering and maths sector come under scrutiny in the survey: schoolchildren and families from socio-economically disadvantaged areas; schoolchildren and families from a range of ethnic backgrounds; and women in physics and engineering.
Significantly, the report was commissioned by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS).
Museums Journal understands that the DBIS may provide up to £20m in funding for a campaign aimed at encouraging under-represented groups, especially women, to seek jobs in science and engineering, but the DBIS declined to comment.
A DBIS statement said: “The government is keen to increase science, technology, engineering and mathematics diversity, and the range of groups engaging with science and engineering.”
Dire need
Winterbotham endorsed the research and says the report is urgently needed: “It is a poor reflection of our national support for science engagement that the UK is having to play catch-up when compared with dozens of other countries, many of them emerging economies.”
Fifteen of the case studies focus on engaging diverse audiences from “socio-economically challenged backgrounds” and different ethnic groups.
Alex Burch, the director of learning at the Science Museum Group, describes how the Science Museum in London has, for example, implemented a “partner London boroughs” strategy to attract new audiences from areas such as Southwark and Brent.
Meanwhile, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre at the University of Manchester has launched a Girls’ Night Out women-only event featuring discussions with engineers and astrophysicis.
“The case studies will be a useful resource for others looking to establish ‘what works’ and, importantly, to allow future initiatives to build on the excellent work that is already out there and identify potential partners,” says Anna Zecharia, a director at the non-profit ScienceGrrl organisation, which supports women in science.
Yasmin Khan, an independent cultural adviser, says the rationale of the report, which should be commended, is relevant to the wider museum sector.
“But it misses the opportunity to make a call to action for science centre staffing to reflect the demographic of their local constituencies across the ranks,” she adds.
Digital engagement
The report includes an overview of how science engagement organisations strive to reach audiences through online devices such as e-learning resources and bespoke science videos.
It highlights an innovative digital scheme at the At-Bristol Science Centre where visitors use barcodes, encrypted on wristbands, that store photographs and other data. This material can be retrieved at a later date.
“Digital and social media play a vibrant role in everything that we all do, as part of reaching all of our audiences,” Fidler says.
Women and science
- 65% of visitors to Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, and 50% of visitors to London’s Science Museum, are female.
- Women make up 46% of the UK workforce but account for only 15.5% of science, technology, engineering and maths staff. Only 8% of posts in the engineering industry are filled by women (Government Equalities Office, August 2013).
- Just 21% of A-level physics students, 39% of maths students and 29.5% of further maths students are female. However, 58% of biology students and 48% of chemistry students are female (Institute of Physics, 2012).
Links
News analysis on the future of the Science Museum Group