EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH: A UK FUNDING AGENCY POINT OF VIEW

1
EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACHA UK FUNDING
AGENCY POINT OF VIEW

• Robin Clegg
• Head of Science in Society
• Science and Technology Facilities Council, UK

2
HEALTH WARNING
This talk is by a RESEARCH funding agency. I
will mention other funding agencies (e.g.,
Education Ministry, Culture Ministry) later
3
STFC - UK Research Council which

• funds astronomy, space science, nuclear
  particle physics research and provides facilities
  for these
• provides major facilities for a wide range of
  users, eg light sources,neutron sources, lasers,
  e-science, IT, etc
• major programme of knowledge exchange
• public engagement firmly part of our remit

4
Public Engagement Drivers

• Accountability to the public (taxpayers)
• Support Government strategy on recruiting the
  next generation of scientists and engineers
• National need for openness and dialogue
• Labs regional community engagement
• Win continued public and political support

5
STFC Target Audiences

• Science-inclined public
• Young people (mainly 11-19) and their families
• Teachers
• New audiences not traditionally engaged
• Opinion-formers e.g. parliament, Government,
  industrialists

6
STFC FOUR KEY OBJECTIVES

• Stimulate and respond to public interest in
  research developments outcomes
• Link STFC science technology with schools
  and young people
• Encourage support researchers EPO work
• Capitalise on STFC Labs/Campuses as excellent
  technical sites for regional EPO delivery and
  partnerships

7
A Special Interest in Astronomy Space
These subjects known to inspire young and
old Need good evidence for this to show
Governments share this across Europe role for
AstroNet? Examples ROSE survey and other
evidence STFC will have EPO such that young
peoples fascination with astronomy and space is
translated into a wider interest in science and
technology how does the translation work?

8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
Some more (not rigorous enough) evidence
Scottish Space School

• 53 pupils aged 17-18 surveyed
• 25 state this directly influenced decision to
  follow a science/engineering course/career
• 12 already wanted this
• 4 say no or negative influence

13
Each year we are

• Funding
• 110 school physics enrichment projects
• 40 small/medium engagement projects
• 2-3 large engagement projects
• 2-3 Fellows public champions
• Occasional large (national) investments
• EPO from Laboratories, publishing etc
• Partnerships, national initiatives, etc

14
fascination is translated(need to work on
this) Examples

• Hands-on activities giving skills training in the
  inspiring space/astro context, such as
• Use of robotic telescopes (LCOGT, NSO, Bradford,
  etc) -gt maths, ICT, physics, astro
• Radio astronomy in schools build simple
  detectors etc -gt electronics, engineering
• Cosmic ray experiments in schools

15
STFC Priorities for IYA2009

• Support national co-ordination
• Public engagement with current research in
  astro/space
• Teachers and young people
• Legacy of new connections including researchers
  teachers journalists etc

16
Some EPO systematics where AstroNet could help

• Link in to science centre network in each country
  (ecsite for Europe)
• Link in to teach initial training and continuing
  professional development providers
• AstroNet forums help share best practice
  including evaluation methods

17
Other funding and policymaking agencies

• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Culture
• Who is developing a national skills agenda?
• Who is developing scientific culture e.g.
  Ciencia Viva in Portugal