STEM Archives

The National Physical Laboratory: Driving innovation with new quantum standards

Written by

In today’s world, establishing global standards for quantum is paramount. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), alongside several partners, have launched the Quantum Standards Network Pilot, focusing on quantum in industry, new quantum technologies, and skills and training opportunities for the future. Rhys Lewis, head of Quantum Programmes at NPL, discusses aligning quantum advancements with industry standards and collaborations across sectors, […]

START – addressing underrepresentation in STEM careers

Written by

When US neuroscientist Dr Luke H Bradley at the University of Kentucky helped design a STEM education programme for underrepresented students, his bold approach of interdisciplinary collaborations, near-peer mentoring, and teacher coaching promised to reshape a culture of negative reinforcement. The START Program embraces authentic research and training through direct contact between underrepresented students and teachers and a network of […]

EngineeringUK and The Big Bang Fair: Inspiring the next generation of STEM researchers

Written by

EngineeringUK seeks to promote engineering in all its facets. As part of this overarching mission, it runs the annual Big Bang Fair, a highly successful celebration of STEM research, aimed at 11–14 year-old students from across the UK. This year, thousands of young people gathered at the NEC in Birmingham, where they were presented with an array of installations, activities, […]

Ladders4Action: Working for an ethical, inclusive, and collaborative research landscape

Written by

Research Outreach interviews Ladders4Action founder, Addy Adelaine, about her research and social work in assisting other minority researchers to get research funding

Ladders4Action is a nonprofit organisation which works to radically enhance the equality and inclusivity of the UK’s research spaces. It seeks to protect and nurture marginalised voices who might otherwise feel excluded from these spaces, fostering a community of researchers from a diverse array of backgrounds. The organisation recognises that only by translating theory into meaningful action will we create […]

Understanding teaching excellence in STEM subjects

Written by

Alfred Thumser conducted a survey among bioscience students to identify what they classify as teaching excellence in STEM subjects, and identified key areas that students value in their education

STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering, maths – are undeniably important if we are to meet the needs of our increasingly globalised world. So knowing what encourages uptake of these subjects to the highest level is of the utmost importance. Good teaching might be an obvious answer, however we don’t fully understand what constitutes ‘teaching excellence’ in STEM subjects. Dr […]

Diverse Horizons: Investing globally in social and environmental sustainability

Written by

Tony Marshall has founded both Diverse Horizons, Inc. and The Diverse Horizon Foundations to provide multiuse community-based facilities to provide educational opportunities around environmental sustainability and social equality.

The issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and social inequality are growing ever more challenging. Considering these problems, global goals for sustainable development have encouraged treaties such as the Paris Agreement and the proposed Green New Deal. Mr Tony Marshall, the Founder, President, and CEO of his corporations Diverse Horizons, Inc. and The Diverse Horizons Foundation, has been diligent in […]

Understanding and responding to climate change: our favourite climate research from 2021

Written by

An aerial view of sea ice in the Arctic, showing white ice at the top and a blue green sea. The article summarises six key articles relating to climate change research published by Research Outreach in 2021

Climate change solutions must reach across education, agriculture, energy production, politics and policymaking, manufacturing, travel, transport – almost every aspect of life. The six articles highlighted below demonstrate the breadth of research being undertaken by scientists globally as they work to understand the complex impacts of climate change, design new technologies and processes for a greener future, assess the financial […]

Scismic: Enhancing and diversifying scientific hiring

Written by

graphic showing diverse scientific hiring

Scismic was founded to help facilitate scientists’ transition from academia to industry. Its two platforms – Scismic Job Seeker and Scismic Lab Seeker – ensure job-seeking scientists find fulfilling work that truly matches their unique skillsets. Scismic has overcome several weaknesses inherent in traditional hiring models, and provides a job-matching platform that saves time, alleviates confusion, and reduces the biases […]

Self-efficacy in non-routine problem solving in STEM education

Written by

Dr Tanya Evans in front of a 'Welcome to Mathematics' sign

Dr Tanya Evans and Emeritus Prof Mike Thomas from the University of Auckland, led by Associate Prof Sergiy Klymchuk from Auckland University of Technology, have developed an intervention that examines whether the employability prospects of students in STEM education could be improved. Their findings suggest that the attitude profiles of students with high and low lateral thinking self-efficacy differ significantly. […]

Gendered digital divides: Enhancing inclusivity

Written by

Graphic showing students at desks in front of computers

Professor Campbell has three decades of practice and research experience in analysing and challenging gender-biased educational design that excludes women. Her recent work presents an in-depth analysis of the multiple layers of barriers women and others with multiple oppressions face in learning with technology and entering science and technology disciplines, which has significant implications within an increasingly digital learning and […]