STEM Leaders Meetup: Inclusion

On Thursday 28th April 2022, Tanya Howden (Computer Science Teacher in Training) and Kelly Gardner (HMFC Innovation Centre) are joining forces to host the first event of a three-part series to help STEM educators embrace inclusivity.

The series is supported by the Scottish Government Ecosystem Fund in connection with the Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review (STER) and forms part of Community Lab’s ongoing Tech Embers project which seeks to improve accessibility to Scotland’s tech ecosystem in rural and underserved communities.

About the Series

After experiencing the trials and tribulations of running accessible STEM, coding, and engineering clubs for young people, Tanya and Kelly have launched the series to provide educators with an opportunity to share best practices, learn from the mistakes of others, and adopt new strategies that combat social exclusion.

Across the three events, participants will hear from experts in gender inclusion, neurodiversity support, and child safeguarding to provide attendees with up-to-date advice on how to open their doors to as many young people as possible, in a safe and responsible manner.

Whether you already host an established club or you’re interested in sharing your expertise but you’re unsure where to start, this is a golden opportunity to network with fellow STEM club leaders and hear from experienced speakers on how to negotiate the complexities of working with young people. Instead of trying to work everything out for yourself, this is an opportunity for educators to join forces, work towards common goals, and optimise their processes.

The Cluster Effect

Not only is this a wonderful example of open collaboration that harnesses knowledge sharing to eradicate inefficiencies, improve processes and build confidence, but it also provides attendees with an opportunity to connect with a peer-to-peer network of like-minded educators who can tackle challenges in solidarity.

Campaigning for change and working against natural forces can be a lonely and scary process. However, this process of clustering people around shared challenges is a prime example of how creating a unified force for change can be greater than the sum of its parts.