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Science and innovation are vital for Europe's future but many young people feel they lack the skills to succeed in these fields. The EU-funded PERFORM project sought to spark their interest by incorporating drama-based techniques into science education.
About 250 secondary school students, 100 teachers and 100 early-career researchers took part in the project, which tested different approaches at workshops in different countries to encourage students to pursue their studies in STEM subjects. These included improvisation theatre in France, stand-up comedy in Spain and public place performances in the UK. Science communicators helped students co-produce theatrical, comedic and entertainment pieces with their teachers and researchers.
Surveys and interviews with students and teachers, as well as observations from the workshops, supported analysis of how the merging of arts and science, interaction with researchers and the participatory nature of the activities had changed the students' perception and knowledge of STEM subjects.
The analysis also looked at the extent to which the activities helped students gain necessary aptitudes for STEM careers, such as social skills, initiative and critical thinking.
'As a result of taking part in PERFORM, many students increased their interest in science and improved their understanding of what it means to undertake research and the role of science in society,' says Casimiro Vizzini of UNESCO in France, which is responsible for the sustainability of the project. 'Data suggest that the involvement of early-career researchers was a key element in this as it enabled students to overcome negative stereotypes about science and scientists.'
Tips for stimulating STEM interest
Recommendations for the future include providing professional development programmes for early-career researchers on issues such as communication, performance and responsible research and innovation, and incorporating these elements into teacher training.
The project also proposed strengthening the links between researchers, teachers and science communicators to create a culture of performance-based learning in schools and stimulate interest in STEM subjects.
In addition, PERFORM developed toolkits to help teachers and researchers improve their communication skills and ability to organise performances and disseminated the project results through the SCIENTIX science education network.