Cell EXPLORERS: national expansion of a sustainable public engagement model

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The Cell EXPLORERS programme is a science education and outreach programme developing a sustainable way of engaging the public in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) activities for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

Cell EXPLORERS is a science outreach programme that began in the School of Natural Sciences at the National University of Ireland Galway. The programme delivers Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) activities regionally and nationally. Cell EXPLORERS runs on a unique, sustainable model where higher education institution employees and students, on a voluntary basis or as part of their degree, are involved in public engagement. Thus, there is a dual benefit of engaging children and the general public whilst also facilitating the training of tomorrow’s science educators and communicators.

The Cell EXPLORERS model of using volunteer students and staff to engage the local public has been expanded to several higher education institutions in Ireland, in both universities and Institutes of Technology. The current project involves a further expansion to a total of 10 institutions spread nationwide. These local teams of scientists will visit schools around their institution and engage children and their families in hands-on science using tried and tested Cell EXPLORERS activities. The Cell EXPLORERS team members act as role models of people pursuing a career in science for children at an age where they decide whether they like science and they would like to study it.

The aim of the project is to test whether this model of outreach and engagement can be used effectively across institutions to engage local communities and to develop guidelines on effective and sustainable outreach from higher education institutions. In addition, the model could allow engagement of traditionally hard-to-reach localities across the island of Ireland.

 

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