Measuring the impact of Informal Science Learning

Dr Penny Fidler

The Big Question

What are we trying to achieve?

Inspiration, Engagement, Family Learning,

Involvement, dialogue, passion, enjoyment,

encouraging school students to study science,

world-leading scientific workforce, creativity,

entrepreneurship

Why is it so tricky?

Each programme and activity is trying to achieve slightly different aims

And, the effect is different on each person

Children in a Turkish Science centre (attitudinal)

Students doing high-end molecular biology for the first time

Scientists discovering that the public is hugely interested in their work and asks really interesting questions

Students meeting a ‘real scientist’ and seeing they are normal!

What are you trying to achieve?

•Promoting an interest in science and encouraging

young people to embark on a career in science

(utilitarian)

•As a creative and cultural pursuit, in the same

way that theatres and galleries are thought to be

a valid and important thing (cultural).

Science as a natural human pursuit

20 million

participants

every year

For many, their actions and impacts fall into a

variety of realms

•Social

•Economic

•Cultural

•Intellectual and educational

•Emotional

•Environmental

•Their impacts can be felt locally, regionally and

nationally

•Impacts can be both long-term and short-term.

KPIs, Strategic Goals,

Funded Programme Goals

We talk about engaging and inspiring, but what is most important to us? Is it building STEM skills or increasing Confidence, Enjoyment and Passion to learn and discover more?

The project vision

To make high quality engaging molecular biology

experiences accessible to students across the UK

What did the students think?

Evaluation forms from 1500 students in 15 UK centres (results here from half those participants, aged 14-16) • 90% felt it increased their interest in science • 95% felt it increased their confidence in them being able to

understand this area of science • 74% felt it made them think that working in science might be

interesting

Confidence

Confidence to experiment, to fail, to seek new ideas,

and to take risks

Thank you

Dr Penny Fidler

www.sciencecentres.org.uk

Guangdong Science Center, Guangzhou, China

Our success economically demands that we invest heavily in

the sciences. A key part of this is to invest in informal science

learning to ensure a vibrant economy in the future