Curiosity in Action

How can creative, participatory STEM activities support youth and community work to enhance young people’s confidence, resilience and wellbeing? 

Curiosity In Action was a two-year programme, running from 2023-2025, involving building an evidence-base, capacity and a network in Scotland to explore the impact of STEM in youth work funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

The action research strand included pairing youth groups across Scotland with researchers involved in STFC research - including astronomy, space science and physics - in a collaborative action research process. Together, they planned and trialled activities, explored approaches to discover what works well and looked at the impact this work has on young people.

This learning shaped a series of free training opportunities and resources developed for Community Learning and Development practitioners, researchers and science educators. We are also collectively working on publishing the findings from this work with the youth workers and researchers involved.

Alongside this work, we host the Curiosity In Communities Network. The network is open to everyone interested in the role of STEM to support Community Learning and Development (CLD) practice outcomes with and by young people. CLD practitioners, science educators, researchers and anyone else interested are invited to connect, build collaborations and share learning together.

The programme was facilitated by Science Ceilidh in partnership with Youth Link Scotland, along with partners including The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh and researchers at the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow. See the full project steering group here.

Project Steering Group

This programme is facilitated by Science Ceilidh in partnership with Youthlink Scotland and a group of steering group members including Professor Catherine Heymans, Royal Observatory of Edinburgh (ROE) STFC, Abi Ashton, ROE STFC, Dr Xinran Liu, University of Edinburgh and UNDO, Dr Jean-Christophe Denis, University of Edinburgh, Dr Autumn Roesh-Marsh, University of Edinburgh Bink Hub, Professor Martin Hendry, University of Glasgow, Hilary Phillips, Youth Link Scotland, Dr Amy Calder, Youth Link Scotland and John Galt, Education Scotland. The Principal Investigator for the programme is Lewis Hou (Science Ceilidh Director). We also have developing collaborations including with SSERC Young STEM Leaders and University of Aberdeen, and are open to further connections.

This is a collaborative programme to help build momentum, evidence and connectivity across sectors to support the meaningful involvement of STEM in youth work and we’re still building collaborations and keen to connect with wider partners passionate about this work.  If you’re interested in being more involved in the strategy of the network & programme please get in touch.