Communicating STFC Research using a Mobile Planetarium

我们的目标是加强我们在STFC科学领域的外展计划，以便更有效地以8至14岁(4至10岁)的儿童为目标，符合奇迹倡议。Wonder倡议旨在将各种背景的人与科学技术联系起来。这一切都是为了通过倾听、理解和回应人们想要了解的科学和技术，让服务不足的社区有平等的发言权。因此，该倡议的重点是与来自英国社会经济最贫困地区的参与者合作，特别关注8至14岁的儿童及其家人和照顾者。考文垂被认为是社会经济极度贫困的地区，很大比例的儿童来自没有人考虑或上过大学接受高等教育的家庭。总体而言，来自社会经济贫困程度较高地区的年轻人获得参与机会的机会较少，因此，接触科学相关知识的机会通常较少。在大流行期间，这种情况变得更加普遍。众所周知，孩子们早在小学时就对自己的职业选择做出了决定。在这些年里，有一种性别差异和文化差异的趋势，进入STEM丰富的环境可能对选择产生很大影响。因此，我们选择以8至14岁的年轻人为目标，因为研究表明，在这个年龄段接触科学相关知识的机会较少，这会塑造年轻人的世界观，并可能阻止他们在STEM工作。我们相信，流动天文馆提供了理想的平台，为这个年龄段的人提供身临其境的、引人入胜的、因此令人难忘的关于STFC研究的演讲。

We aim to enhance our outreach programme in STFC science areas to target 8 to14 year olds (Year 4 to Year 10) more effectively in line with the Wonder Initiative. The Wonder Initiative aims to connect people from all backgrounds with science and technology. It is all about giving under-served communities an equal voice by listening, understanding and responding to what people want to know about science and technology. As a result of this, the Initiative focuses on working with participants from the most socioeconomically deprived areas of the UK, with a particular focus on 8 to 14 year olds and their families and carers. Coventry is considered to have areas of great socioeconomic deprivation with a large percentage of children coming from homes where no one has considered or attended university for higher education. Overall, young people from areas of greater socioeconomic deprivation have less access to engagement opportunities and as a result, typically have less exposure to science-related knowledge. This has become even more prevalent over the course of the pandemic. It is widely known that children make decisions about their career choices as early as primary school. During these years, there is a tendency for gender differences and cultural differences where access to STEM rich environments can have a strong influence on choice. Therefore, we have chosen to target 8 to 14 year olds as research has shown less exposure to science-related knowledge at this age shapes a young person's outlook and could dissuade them from a career in STEM. We believe that a mobile planetarium provides the ideal platform to deliver immersive, engaging and hence memorable talks on STFC research to this age group.