The Science Capital newsletter shares the first findings from ASPIRES 3, the third stage of the research project investigating the science and career aspirations, and trajectories, of 20-23 year olds in England.
Starting in 2009 with a cohort of 10 and 11 year olds living in England, ASPIRES is an ESRC-funded longitudinal study investigating young people's ideas and experiences of science. Since then, the project team has tracked the cohort for 10 years. At time of publication, they are entering their 20s during a pandemic, global economic crash and time for social change for the better.
For 3 months the ASPIRES research team recorded interviews with near 50 individuals from the tracked cohort, finding out about their science interests, career goals, and how they were coping with the UK lockdown and COVID-19 pandemic. With 87% of young people in the study reporting some sort of negative impact of the pandemic and lockdown, the team has produced a list of recommendations for those working with young people in and outside HE.