From deciding which new car to buy, medical treatment to undertake or even understanding the hype behind a new diet fad, the world around us is changing faster than ever. Research is constantly being misrepresented in the media, people are being bombarded with information (including so-called ‘alternative facts’) and scientists and engineers are increasingly being viewed as elite — and that’s become a dirty word. In an increasingly technological and scientific world, it’s perhaps never been more important to engage the public with STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and its applications.
The terms STEM outreach and science communication have been around for years — but if they’re new to you you might be asking yourself what it’s all about. Quite simply, it’s the act of ‘reaching out’ and engaging an individual or a community with science, technology, engineering and math, all with a view to encourage future participation in the disciplines and improve science literacy. We might be encouraging youth to pursue a career in engineering, or asking hobbyists to support us in a citizen science research project. Perhaps most commonly, we’re simply trying to show people how we can use STEM and its associated methodology to understand the world around us and make informed decisions.