IASUK RSC Zones 2013-21 Evaluation Report (Click image to read full report, [PDF])

Between 2013 and 2021 the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC, rsc.org) funded or part funded 32 IAS zones to engage students with chemists.

This report is a summary of the activity in, and an evaluation of, the impact of those zones.

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The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) directly part-funded 3 IAS zones in 2021 and members of the RSC participated in a further 7 zones. Overall, 7,327 students from 185 schools engaged with RSC members in 180 live chats, with 80% actively engaging. 64% of participating schools were in underserved areas, and 51 RSC members from various fields within science engaged with the students.

Participation in IAS supports students’ science capital and has a positive impact on RSC members, with 83% reporting an increase in skill in communicating with lay people and 77% being more interested in continuing with other forms of engagement activities after IAS.

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Between 2018 and 2020 the Medical Research Council (MRC, mrc.ukri.org) funded 5 IAS zones to engage students with MRC research. This report is a summary of the activity in, and an evaluation of, the impact of those zones. Read the full report [PDF] ❯ Summary

• We ran 5 zones between June 2018 and November 2020
• 5,335 students logged in with 80% actively engaging:
  • Students from 141 schools took part.
  • 59% of participating schools were widening participation or in underserved areas.

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I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here is an online, student-led STEM enrichment activity. Since 2008, we have connected school students with scientists through energetic instant messaging-style chats. With the fast onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, I’m a Scientist, Stay at home was planned in a short four week period of turmoil and uncertainty from late-March to mid-April 2020. The pandemic completely changed the way we run our activity. Read the full report ❯ This report is a summary of the activity in, lessons learnt, and an evaluation of the impact of this event. Our capacity modelling was based on 5% of UK schools requesting space in the activity. This seemed reasonable based on promotional support and our unique position of being able to provide online STEM enrichment at scale. This would involve up to 150,000 students connecting with 1,800 scientists. Recruitment Interest levels were excellent. By the end … Continue reading →

Summary We ran 24 zones across 5 events between November 2018 and March 2020: 20 IAS zones 4 IAE zones 142 STEM professionals took part: Scientists and engineers showed students a wide range of backgrounds, careers, and routes into STEM. 9,516 students logged in with 91% actively engaging. Students from 169 schools engaged. 67% of participating schools were widening participation or in underserved areas. The activity had a positive impact on students, teachers, and scientists and engineers: Teachers reported that the activity was effective in improving students’ motivations towards STEM, helping students see how STEM relates to the world around them, challenging stereotypes, and developing students’ awareness that STEM qualifications can be useful even if students don’t want to work in science. [A student] took part in the family live chat in the evening. The next day she was so excited and told me she couldn’t believe her luck in … Continue reading →

Following school closures from 20 March 2020 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19, the Green Zone was run as a pilot for further I’m a Scientist, Stay at home zones planned for the 2020 Summer Term. The Green Zone was run as a pilot zone to work out what improvements would be required to enable a massive upscaling of the I’m a Scientist activity. It was an online space in which teachers could book live chats for their students prior to the Easter break. Delivery included moderation, and management and liaison with teachers and scientists. Read the evaluation report [PDF] Additionally, a summary of key data on activity in the Zone, with examples of engagement and some analysis of popular discussion topics is available in the Green Zone Report.