Abstract
This paper explores the role of Discover! Saturday Clubs as informal
educational spaces devised as a means of broader dissemination and
experiential learning for school-aged girls, with fledgling interests in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Discover! Clubs are a UK based
initiative organised by Women into Science, Engineering and Construction
(WISE), researchers at Cardiff University and Careers Wales. STEM is
traditionally characterised as suffering from a dearth of female representation
at school and within the work force. This paper explores the extent to which
Discover! works to remedy this deficit and enable young women to take an
active interest and involvement producing a new version of knowledge
worker, benefitting the wider knowledge economy. We draw explicit links
between educational attainment and credentials and labour inclusion, to
interrogate notions of worth and validity of extra mural/after-school activity.
Ultimately, Discover! is approached as a STEM initiative, indicative of a
general trend towards the proliferation of public awareness, understanding,
inclusion and participation within science, technology, engineering and
mathematics.
educational spaces devised as a means of broader dissemination and
experiential learning for school-aged girls, with fledgling interests in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Discover! Clubs are a UK based
initiative organised by Women into Science, Engineering and Construction
(WISE), researchers at Cardiff University and Careers Wales. STEM is
traditionally characterised as suffering from a dearth of female representation
at school and within the work force. This paper explores the extent to which
Discover! works to remedy this deficit and enable young women to take an
active interest and involvement producing a new version of knowledge
worker, benefitting the wider knowledge economy. We draw explicit links
between educational attainment and credentials and labour inclusion, to
interrogate notions of worth and validity of extra mural/after-school activity.
Ultimately, Discover! is approached as a STEM initiative, indicative of a
general trend towards the proliferation of public awareness, understanding,
inclusion and participation within science, technology, engineering and
mathematics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 26-46 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |