We want to be scientists! STEM project with a gender perspective

The aim of the project "We want to be scientists! STEM project with a gender perspective" is to contribute to the scientific education of schoolchildren in the fifth and sixth years of primary school and the first cycle of ESO, to promote literacy and knowledge transfer, the generation of scientific vocations with a gender perspective and to bring schoolchildren closer to the university. The proposal carried out during the 2021-2022 academic year consisted of a series of activities that led schoolchildren to carry out a STEM project, guided by teachers from their schools and university student mentors. The teachers and mentors, who received prior training at the university, were supported by the training team to resolve doubts and guide the process. The students also participated in a workshop on gender and science coordinated by female teachers who are experts in this field. The resulting projects were presented at the schools and at an Experiences Fair that took place at the UAB on 31 May 2022. These actions are expected to contribute to the scientific education of schoolchildren, fostering the acquisition of knowledge, familiarisation with scientific methodology and interest in science. It is also expected to contribute to the empowerment of female students for the generation of scientific vocations.

The project involved 17 class groups from 7 primary and secondary schools (400 students in the fifth and sixth years of primary school and in the first and second years of ESO); 15 teachers from the participating schools, who received training and support from the UAB training team (team from the Research Centre for Scientific and Mathematical Research-CRECIM), as well as the involvement of the school management team and faculty, 30 university student mentors (mostly women), Finally, teachers from the Faculties of Science, Biosciences and the School of Engineering of the UAB were also involved in the organisation of workshops of a scientific and technological nature aimed at the students of the participating schools.