New national programme focussing on diversity in science

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is delighted to announce that it has been selected as a partner for a new national programme to increase diversity and inclusion in science.

Kew is just one of just 15 science centres and museums nationally who will be delivering initiatives as part of the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres and the Science Museum Group's ‘Science Capital in Practice’ programme. This programme is part of the Science Museum Group Academy, which focuses on embedding good practice informed by the latest science capital research, to enable children and adults from a more diverse range of backgrounds to participate in science-related experiences and feel that science ‘is for me’.

Research into science capital has been led by the work of Professor Louise Archer and her team from University College London and King’s College London. Science capital is a measure of our engagement or relationship with science and is made up of what you know about science, how you think about it, what science-related activities you do and the people you know who use and talk about science.

As one of the selected centres, RBG Kew will receive a grant, training and additional resources to facilitate them to apply the concept of ‘science capital’ to their STEM engagement activities with their local communities, families and schools.

RBG Kew was chosen as one of the selected partners after impressing the panel with its commitment to incorporate science capital in the schools’ and visitor learning programmes through staff training and the creation of new school resources.

Julia Willison, Head of Learning and Participation, at RBG Kew said ‘We are delighted to join this prestigious national programme at a time when the UK needs to widen participation and attract more young people into science. Kew is addressing some of the most critical challenges facing society in the 21st century including climate change and habitat loss.  We know science impacts everyone’s lives which is why we want to open our doors and contribute to diversifying participation’.

The announcement was made on 18 March, at the Manchester launch of the Science Museum Group Academy at the Science and Industry Museum.

Karen Davies, Head of Learning Research and Resources, Science Museum Group, said: 'We were hugely impressed by the quality of proposals we received and are delighted to be working alongside the 15 partner organisations to build a community of good practice across the country. This is a great opportunity to test ideas informed by the research that will have longer term benefits for the centres, and which allows those audiences they engage with to feel that science, and science centres and museums, are for them.'

Contacts

Kew Press office: pr@kew.org or 0208 3325605/ 07753103460