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Town Scientist- planting long-term STEM initiatives in the community

Year Awarded

2023

Amount

€60,000

  • Organisation:Niamh Shaw Ltd
  • Audience:Parents
  • Format:Informal Education
  • Location:Louth, Offaly
  • Topic:Science

Project Summary

We know from the Science Barometer 2020 report, that while science was largely seen as valuable on a personal level with three quarters of those surveyed agreeing that science is useful in solving everyday problems in their lives, just 40% identify as the type of person who could be a scientist. This project targets those marginalised groups, as identified in this Discover Call who may be part of that 60% of Ireland’s population who do not see themselves as scientists. Working directly with these groups on creating collaborative and co-designed STEM activities, perhaps we can develop capacity and become better practitioners of science communication. Building on existing relationships with Louth County Library, Louth ABC parent organisation & Birr Castle Demesne, and building on the success of ‘Ssh!@The Library Explorers’ informal science learning programme for parents in Louth library, Niamh Shaw will co-design a programme of 10 x informal science learning sessions interacting with their age action groups, parents, mens and womens groups to provide workshops, talks and STEAM projects to ignite curiosity, stimulate debate and increase public awareness. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop a methodology that can be shared across other libraries, to facilitate increased uptake by adults of STEM learning opportunities in their community.

Evaluation Findings

Challenges:
Challenge 1: Low community engagement in Birr.
Cause: Lack of connection with key local groups and gatekeepers; Birr Castle had limited interaction with target communities.
Solution: Reached out to LOETB and Birr Library, engaging older citizens and families during Space Week; future plans include deeper collaboration with local authorities to identify and reach disadvantaged communities.

Findings:
1. The Town Scientist project led to significant increases in participants’ confidence, interest, and engagement with STEM.
2. Confidence in discussing science rose from 38% to 75%, with 85% saying they would attend future science events.
3. Participants praised the approachable delivery, especially by facilitator Niamh, whose trusted presence and tailored sessions were key to the project’s success.
4. Behavioural changes were observed, with participants sharing science knowledge at home and seeking out further learning.
5. Peer interaction increased over time, supporting learning through informal community networks.
6. Local relevance and trust were central, with high ratings for having a communicator from the community.
7. Awareness of science’s relevance grew, with 70% agreeing it mattered to their lives and 88% finding it interesting.
8. The evaluation validated the model’s effectiveness in engaging underrepresented adults through co-created, community-based science communication.

Learnings:
1. The Town Scientist project made meaningful progress on its core goals of enhancing science capital, embedding STEM in community structures, and developing a scalable, trust-based engagement model.
2. Participants reported increased confidence and a stronger sense of belonging in science, with many describing a shift in identity and curiosity.
3. Delivering sessions through trusted community venues like libraries fostered psychological safety, peer networks, and sustained engagement.
4. The co-created, adaptive learning model allowed participants to shape content, leading to deeper engagement and relevance.
5. Sessions evolved in response to group interests, with topics like local water quality and everyday chemistry emerging organically.
6. The project’s core features-trusted facilitators, community-based delivery, and co-designed content-are adaptable and scalable to other regions.
7. Future iterations could benefit from clearer session goals and stronger links to local science resources, but the foundational model has proven highly effective.