Introduction and Background

Engaging and inspiring young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) has long been identified as an area of key strategic importance economically, developmentally and socially . Studies such as the Royal Society’s 2005 “Taking a Leading Role” identify role models and meeting professional scientists as key factors in career and study choices, while organizations such as STEMNET have been formed to “increase young people’s choices and chances through STEM.”

The Sex and History project, which is part of Sexual Knowledge, Sexual History at the University of Exeter’s Centre for Medical History, draws upon the world-leading research of Dr Rebecca Langlands and Professor Kate Fisher to meet the need for effective sex and relationship education. It empowers young people to discuss pressing contemporary issues in a supportive environment. At its heart is a methodology that uses historical objects from past cultures such as ancient Rome or China as a springboard for discussion, debate and creative responses.

Centre of the Cell is a £4 million biomedical science centre; educational website and outreach project aimed at children and young people aged 9 to 19, families and youth and community groups. The Centre of the Cell 'Pod' (resembling a 16 cell human embryo) is dramatically suspended above the laboratories and provides young people with a unique interactive insight into what scientists do and how their work influences real life. Centre of the Cell's Director, Professor Fran Balkwill OBE FMedSci, is a leading cancer researcher and science communication expert.

Purpose:

Bright Club is a series of events where academics perform stand-up comedy about their research in a professional comedy venue to an audience beyond the usual suspects. Full details of the project are available at www.brightclub.org

Inventum, the first board game created by a Spanish university to foster interest in knowledge transfer, aims to promote the culture of entrepreneurship in society at large and raise awareness of the importance of the process of valorisation and knowledge transfer. The project was funded by the then Ministry of Science and Innovation - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (MICINN-FECYT) in its call for grants for the promotion of scientific culture and innovation.