EDI in STEM

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in STEM (EDI in STEM) is a collaborative research project between the Department of Education, Professional Development Services for Teachers (PDST) Primary STEM Team and UCD School of Education. 

This project looks at the attitudes and beliefs of fourth class teachers and their impact on the teaching of STEM in primary schools in Ireland with a focus on the role of women in STEM. Research on gender and STEM tells us that for young women to pursue a career in STEM, they must believe in the importance of STEM and believe in their ability to succeed in the field (Accenture, 2016).

This project aims to develop and strengthen the interest and attitudes of fourth class girls and boys in primary schools towards STEM. Teachers will be provided with a narrative overview of key STEM women, with parallel tasks and activities for students to partake in as part of their exploration of the person and the impact of their work. These narratives will be anchored in the primary school curriculum and aim to foster an emotional connection with STEM women leaders through the mechanism of story-telling.

Participating teachers are required to engage with sustained support and professional development provided by the Professional Development Services for Teachers (PDST) in collaboration with the UCD research team and to facilitate their pupils to engage in STEM activities, as well as teach them some of the lessons on women in STEM and work with their pupils to develop individual and/or group projects on inspirational women in STEM.

This video, featured at Féilte 2021, provides an overview of the project to date.

Follow the project on Twitter by clicking on the image below

#girlsinstem #lookseewhatIcanbe