EkoSTEM and STEM Ambassadors

Supported STEM outreach is highly valuable for STEM Ambassadors, giving them resources and the scaffolding to build their confidence in delivering meaningful engagements with young people. One such opportunitiy is the EkoSTEM Programme: a partnership between Eko (Engagement, Knowledge, and Opportunities), STEMAZING, and EqualEngineers to bring STEM role models directly to young people across Scotland with a series of funded workshops and training.

Workshops in primary schools, coordinated by STEMAZING's Michelle O'Donnell, are led by women or non-binary STEM role models and designed to inspire learners and challenge stereotypes. Secondary workshops coordinated by EqualEngineers' Kat Culyer are structured around STEM skills and breaking down barriers; both primary and secondary workshops carry their values of Curiosity, Creativity, and Courage throughout their design and implementation.

"The structure and support are great – it makes it all feel much more simple to get out and get involved." -STEM Ambassador

The STEM Ambassadors in Scotland team were able to get a first-hand look at one of the EkoSTEM workshops at St Roch’s Secondary School in Glasgow. Three STEM Ambassadors, along with Kat Culyer from EqualEngineers and our STEM Ambassador Programme Coordinator Liam, had a busy morning delivering a workshop called ‘Renewable Energies’, which involves creating model wind turbines with accessible materials and testing their functionality.

With 7 classes scheduled for the day, the volunteer team stayed together for the first session, then split up in two for the remainder. The STEM Ambassadors were a mix of experienced and newer, creating the perfect setting to build confidence in secondary engagement with plenty of support on hand.

"This activity is always a great one. It’s easy to deliver, it’s engaging. Plus doing it with the other volunteers makes for a fun day." -STEM Ambassador

Learners across all 7 classes focused keenly on the task at hand, working independently then collaborating to improve their turbine designs, asking the STEM Ambassadors for feedback on choices they’d made along the way. Learners had a choice of three paths to finish their turbine, allowing each learner to embrace their creativity and have fun with the assignment. At the end of each workshop, all 7 classes voted nearly unanimously that they enjoyed the activity and would like to do one again in the future. Learners left the workshop with a greater understanding of STEM skills and how they are used in every sector, as well as a hands-on experience of the engineering design process.

"I can’t believe I actually got it to work!”

"Yeah, I liked working on it and tweaking it so it would wind up better." -Learners at the workshop

The workshops highlighted not only the importance of collaboration between the learners completing the task, but also between STEM Ambassadors delivering the activity: the support of other volunteers while engaging in STEM outreach can be hugely helpful for less experienced volunteers. The supportive community of STEM Ambassadors built by STEMAZING and EqualEngineers creates a significant impact beyond each engagement. For each workshop delivered, multiple STEM Ambassadors end the day with the experience and enthusiasm to propel their future STEM outreach with young people.