Newcastle Science City

What We DoEducation and Community

Our Education and Community Engagement activity focuses on attracting people to the industry, and nurturing their talents and ambitions, through a programme which runs in schools, colleges and universities.

We see encouraging scientists of the future as central to the success of Newcastle as a Science City. Just as important is involving the community in science. Our Community Engagement project will raise awareness of science and new technologies across Newcastle.

The core strand of this city-wide programme will be delivered by Newcastle City Voluntary Services (NCVS) and New Deal for Communities (NDC), who will bring together voluntary and community groups.

Find out more about how we are working with partners across the city in the case studies below.

SEIP - making partnership work
In an attempt to make science more interesting, secondary schools across Newcastle have formed a group designed to drive the idea forward. The Science Education Innovation Partnership (SEIP) comprises people with a special interest in subjects related to Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM), including a representative from the city council.

The Newcastle SEIP has developed an Action Plan which will enhance the curriculum to make it more exciting, support teachers with continuing professional development, and showcase the wide range of jobs which are available to people with STEM qualifications.

The team has also helped young people learn more about how they can play a part in Newcastle as a Science City.

Anne Davies, Secondary Schools Science Consultant with Newcastle City Council, who has been co-ordinating the project, said: “Schools have grasped with both hands the opportunity to be more imaginative in how they teach all the sciences.

“Our core funding to this project has enabled schools to give more time to extra curricular activities such as scientific discussion cafes, and parent and pupil science clubs, and also to develop closer links with universities and businesses.

“All of these initiatives have already paid dividends in terms of increasing pupil interest in science."

Changing thinking on science
We believe there needs to be a cultural change towards Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) within our young people when they are considering the subjects to study and careers to follow.

It is vital that young people and those who influence their development - parents, teachers and peers - all realise the opportunities that exist for those with STEM qualifications.

They also need to make young people aware of the wide range of exciting and interesting STEM-related careers that are available.

Our team have recently launched a Careers Booklet, aimed at encouraging people of all ages and capabilities to study STEM subjects so that they can take advantage of these employment opportunities.

The booklet highlights some real-life stories of how studying STEM subjects have led other people into jobs as diverse as computer game design for Xbox, the testing of James Bond’s favourite Aston Martins, and the protection of the British forces across the world through complex communication systems.

We are committed to improving young people’s participation and attainment rates in science and technology subjects in secondary and further education, and aim to break down barriers between science and the wider community, so that everyone in the region can benefit.

Involving communities in science
The delivery of education and community engagement activities New Deal for Communities (NDC) will deliver a range of community-based projects and workshops to help people enjoy science.

NDC has employed a Community Science Manager and in the near future will employ three Newcastle residents from West, East and North West of the city, to act as Community Science Development Workers. They will develop community participation and work within neighbourhoods and communities, with a focus on disadvantaged areas, to develop science- themed projects addressing local issues.

There will be opportunities to form collaborations between communities and scientists.

NCVS will employ a Policy officer and an Information Officer to provide support across the city, for example to set up networks and help develop activities in collaboration with NDC.

A range of materials will be produce, some of which will be designed by local communities themselves. A variety of venues including community centres, libraries, parks and schools will be used to host workshops, mini-festivals and exhibitions.

Funds have been earmarked to deliver activities that will emerge from the community engagement work from 2010 onwards.

Creating jobs through science
Newcastle Science City is supporting efforts to give people a better understanding of the training, learning and employment opportunities that exist in the science sector within the Tyne and Wear Travel to Work area.

This activity aims to build relationships with potential employers and help unemployed people to consider jobs in science. Newcastle Futures, the city-wide employability agency, will employ two people and use their extensive network of partner organisations to co-ordinate this part of the project.