1. Public Outreach at RAL: Engaging the Next Generation of Scientists and Engineers Rob Appleyard On behalf of Sophy Palmer, James Adams, George Ryall, Ian Collier 19 th March 2015

2. About STFC The Science and Technology Facilities Council is a UK research council –We operate scientific facilities (RAL) –We fund research –We support international collaborations

3. What do we mean by Outreach? Activities that communicate what we do to the general public and help science education –Tours –Workshops –Student projects –Work experience –…etc.

4. Why Outreach? (1) Because we have to! The objects for which the Council is established and incorporated are:- … –In relation to the activities as engaged in by the Council above and in such manner as the Council may see fit:- to generate public awareness; –to communicate research outcomes; –to encourage public engagement and dialogue; –to disseminate knowledge; and –to provide advice.

5. Why Outreach? (2) That’s the ‘legal’ reason. But why really? –Current national STEM* skills shortage – shortage of graduates. –Trends suggest increasing demand for STEM skills in the future. But STEM jobs are outwardly attractive… –Low unemployment –High pay –Wide variety of job types *STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

6. Why Outreach? (3) We think the problem is image. Negative perceptions of STEM: –dull… –difficult… –male-dominated… Fix these and maybe we fix the problem!

7. Why Outreach? (4) Public policy benefits aren’t the only reason for us to do this… –Staff enjoy outreach activities! –Useful experience presenting to mixed audiences –Staff will sometimes volunteer their own time to continue outreach projects

8. A Quick Tour of RAL - SCD -Scientific Computing Department (where I work) –UK’s LHC Tier 1 –JASMIN-CEMS –EMERALD –SCARF

9. A Quick Tour of RAL – Other Science Diamond Light Source

10. A Quick Tour of RAL – Other Science Diamond Light Source ISIS neutron and muon source

11. A Quick Tour of RAL – Other Science Diamond Light Source ISIS neutron and muon source Vulcan Petawatt Laser RIP

12. A Quick Tour of RAL – Other Science Diamond Light Source ISIS neutron and muon source Vulcan Petawatt Laser Space Science

13. Site-Wide Outreach Resources Public Engagement Department STEM Ambassadors Visitors’ Centres (Central, space, particle physics)

14. Visitors’ Centres Free spaces dedicated to outreach activities –Central one acts as a hub and general space for public activities –Others showcase individual aspects of RAL’s work.

15. Tours Group –Organised group of guides, pre-written notes, etc. Machine room adaptations –Screens showing interesting data Machine room tours –Support for general site public access days –RAL Open Week SCD Outreach Resources

16. SCD Outreach Activities Work experience students –Summer projects for 17-18 year-old students Partcipation in external programs, including… –Engineering Education Scheme –Young Rewired State –Ada Lovelace Day –“I’m a Scientist…”

17. Work Experience Individual students give come into RAL during school holidays to work on small summer projects (~1 month) –Scientific Computing takes ~5 students/year –Example project: UI for log search cluster

18. Engineering Education Scheme Team of 16-17 year-old students –Solve a real-world engineering problem for a large organisation –6-month project Example projects –Machine room heat monitoring system –Display board for visitor’s centre http://www.etrust.org.uk/engineering-education-scheme

19. Ada Lovelace Day An international celebration of the achievements of women in STEM –5 teams of 13-14 year olds –Arduino-based activity where students design and build model spacecraft systems –http://findingada.com/ Image from Ada Lovelace Day Site http://findingada.com/

20. Young Rewired State Teams of 11-18 year-olds create web applications using publicly available data www.yrs.io

21. I’m a Scientist Scientists answer questions and participate in short web chats Students vote for their favourites Questions: –Why is the sky blue? –Do we know what the universe is expanding into? –Do you think that a scientist can have a religious point of view? –Will humans ever evolve? –Are shadows made out of atoms? –Do humans fight each other because we have no natural predators to fight? –if you were stranded in a dessert what 3 things would you take with you? http://imascientist.org.uk

22. RAL Open Week Planned event for 8 th - 11 th July O(10k) visitors expected All RAL facilities expected to participate –Marquees –Public tours –SCD expecting 400- 800 visitors

23. Results! SCD tours generally very well received Consistently good feedback from visitors to R89 Staff working in SCD who we originally met through outreach!

26. Conclusion Outreach is important –For the present… –…and for the future –We need to change perceptions We have a model that we believe is working… –…and can be reproduced.

27. Any questions?