Parallel sessions III

11. Role models and good examples

11.1 Meet the Scientist (T18), László Antos

Abstract: Identifying that young peoples' attention can effectively be directed to the STEM fields only by direct access to secondary school level (essential for the strengthening of the human resources of innovation), the Meet the Scientist programme was launched in 2010. The goal is to promote engineering and natural sciences along with education in the United States among high school students. At every meeting, a former Fulbright scholar as a volunteer gives a 30-minute presentation about his current research, scientific activity and past Fulbright experiences.

11.2 It's my choice – women in STEM studies (T19) Doris Elster

Abstract: IRIS (Interests and Recruitment in Science) is a European project that focuses on the challenge that few young people in general, and women in particular, choose an education and career in science and technology. IRIS contributes to the improvement of recruitment, retention and gender equity patterns in higher education. To this end, a questionnaire was developed that would allow the identification of fostering and hindering factors for choice and stay in STEM studies. It highlighted that gender influences the choice and identified some country-specific differences.

11.3 How to use Participatory Action Research to foster inquiry-based learning in science education (T32), Anna Majer

Abstract: A presentation on the benefits of Participatory Action Research (PAR) in a collaborative project involving the science education research and development team of the Hungarian Institute for Educational Research and Development (OFI) and eight primary and lower secondary schools in Hungary. The overall project develops educational programmes for all-day schools, incorporating modular units designed for regular science lessons and extracurricular activities with a special focus on Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL).

11.4 Fostering innovation in STEM education (T15) Maite Debry

Abstract: In this session, the Reach Out Toolkit, the main tool produced by the DESIRE (Disseminating Educational Science, Innovation and Research in Europe) project, will be presented. This publication highlights the method used to analyse dissemination of STEM education projects results and gathers recommendations to better reach teachers and other science education stakeholders. The project started from the observation that the multiple funded projects in science education (funded around Europe each year), have a great potential to change existing teaching and learning practices but their impact is sometimes low and the outcomes are often not used as expected.