This was our most recent STEM working group meeting in our series on activities with different age groups. This session focussed on working with secondary schools and students (KS3&4).
Dr Carl Harrington, University of East Anglia talked about the UEA STEM school offer. The talk focussed on the integrated approach UEA takes to working with schools and young people across year groups. Carl discusssed how different groups are involved in this work, including pupils, parents, teachers, role models, PhD students and academics. He also talked about how UEA assesses activity impact.
Jessica Birch talked about the Sunderland University Routes into Medicine Programme. Routes into Medicine is a comprehensive widening access and participation initiative for select year 9 cohorts. The project blends the expertise of medicine academics, invaluable insights from current medicine students and young people who have an interest in pursuing a career in medicine. The project is now in its 3rd consecutive year and is ever evolving to better support young people make informed choices about their futures.
The session ran from 14:00-15:30
Speaker Biographies
Dr Carl Harrington is an Associate Professor in the School of Biological Sciences and a Widening Participation Academic Lead at the University of East Anglia (UEA). He has fifteen years experience working with young people aged 5 to 18 years from underrepresented groups in Higher Education (HE) to showcase STEM at both HE and subsequent careers. This includes designing and running impactful activities, supporting others to design and run activities, and planning and running events. Since 2017, his role has extended to working with UEA undergraduate STEM students underrepresented in HE to support them in their retention and degree award during their studies, and progression after HE. He teaches students from the Foundation Year to final year and is passionate about ensuring that HE is accessible to all and supporting students through their university journey.
Jessica Birch attended the University of Sunderland as a student graduating in 2019 with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She returned as an intern in the Widening Access and Participation Team in 2021, worked as an assistant until 2024 and assumed the position of STEMM coordinator last October. Having been in the role of STEMM coordinator for a year now she has overseen space, e-sports and medicine outreach projects.