It worked across the Science Museum Group, King’s College London and University College London, supported by BP. This research to practice project used the concept of science capital (science-related qualifications, interest, literacy and social contacts) to understand how young people from all backgrounds engage with science and how their engagement might be supported.
The project aims
Research shows that the more science capital a young person has, the more likely they are to study science post-16 and to see science as ‘for me’. Yet national survey data shows that 27% of all 11 to 17 year olds have low science capital, particularly those from disadvantaged schools and communities. This limits their opportunities and outcomes in life, and contributes to the shortfall in young people in the UK choosing STEM subjects.
Research into science capital can help us to understand what influences and shapes people’s attitudes towards science (whether they see science as for them or not).
Enterprising Science aimed to engage more young people with science by:
- Increasing understanding about the factors that influence science engagement and participation
- Helping teachers to build students’ science capital
- Developing new approaches for engaging students from all backgrounds with science, particularly focusing on those from disadvantaged schools and communities
Collaboration
Enterprising Science was a partnership of academics and practitioners working together to support schools and other professionals in engaging more young people with science. Our approach aimed to highlight the relevance of science to young people’s futures and find ways to connect school science with students’ diverse identities and lives. It involved collaboration between schools, young people and their families, and museums and science centres.
Our role
The Science Museum Group provided practitioner-based expertise about outside classroom, museum and science centre learning. We explored ways to develop and adapt a science capital approach for the informal science learning (ISL) sector by developing new tools and approaches to help engage all of our audiences with science helping us to reach out to new and diverse audiences.
Find out more about our approach and science capital in the Science Museum group here.
Project partners
University College London & King’s College London
Enterprising Science was underpinned by evidence-based research that was carried out by University College London and King’s College London. You can find out more about the project research and teams at University College London and King’s College London.
BP
Enterprising science was supported by BP. Find out more about BP’s role in the project and their commitment to STEM education.