Show Me The Science are a diverse group of like-minded people, and exist with the sole intention of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)-based education and careers.
From the STEM, to the stars
Our aim is to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders, and to do so with the use of fun and engaging activities and workshops that showcase these areas.
We hope to demonstrate that STEM careers are not only open to everyone, regardless of background, but achievable. There are many different STEM-based careers and this diversity is reflected in the make up of our team of volunteers.
Many of us are STEM Ambassadors, having attended the nationally recognised training framework to promote education in these areas, and have gone on to have a wide range of experiences in delivering practical experiences to people of all ages.
We also attend more general public events such as science/food/music festivals, and will soon offer our services at open days and school events, after-school clubs and more as we develop the workshop.
Public engagement and our role
Public engagement is described by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement as a two-way interaction with mutual benefit between the facilitator and audience. In the case of our work, this interaction is between our volunteers (those involved in STEM education or careers), and the general public. The benefit to the volunteer is gaining valuable skills in science communication, working with the public and gaining confidence and technical skills themselves, whilst the participants will be able to learn something, increasing their knowledge and understanding, and awareness of scientific concepts and current research/healthcare/STEM practices.
It is a fantastic opportunity for scientific researchers to showcase their own expertise, promote higher education, and importantly, gain insights from the general public that can help to shape their own research questions or approaches.
Public engagement describes the myriad of ways in which the activity and benefits of higher education and research can be shared with the public. Engagement is by definition a two-way process, involving interaction and listening, with the goal of generating mutual benefit.
National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement