Project title: The Library of Inspiration
Funding awarded: £99,713.00
Summary:
This project aims to empower 12 and 13-year-olds from underrepresented groups in engineering to become future leaders. This will be achieved through Libraries of Inspiration, located in local high schools. Each Library will house 10 subject-specific writers’ kits, each containing the technology, tools and inspiration to bring STEM related topics to life. These kits will be co-created by students, teachers, library staff, and academics. The kits, designed specifically for girls, young carers, and pupils from underrepresented backgrounds, incorporate fashion, film, books, adventure, sustainability, and other topics to ignite excitement and motivation.
Each kit will explore cutting-edge technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, sound, robotics, information systems, and AI, to indirectly encourage engagement with engineering. The primary focus is on storytelling, using peer groups and role models to foster confidence, communication, and leadership skills.
The concept of a library provides a familiar and inclusive space for individuals to find agency and inspiration. It allows them to explore new technologies, break down barriers, and discover their own path.
What needs does the project address?
The Library of Inspiration looks to provide pupils from underserved areas with all the necessary tools, support, and content to imagine themselves as leaders in STEM related disciplines, to understand the roles and skills on offer, and to understand how they can be part of the future. The flexibility offered through the library allows pupils to access the kits before, during and after school, in their library, their English classroom or at home. This also benefits young carers, who can find a space and time that works for them, making it easier to engage with the activities alongside their existing commitments.
The project will appeal to all pupils but will address the interests and passions of girls, provide activities related to relevant topics such as the climate emergency and those identified during the cocreation phase. It will showcase inspirational women, as well as integrating with the broader curriculum. This inclusive approach can empower girls, equipping them with self-confidence, leadership skills, and technological proficiency.
What will the students experience?
Undergraduate engineering students will experience working on a project, developing their experience around co-creation, creativity, leadership and social responsibility.
The Library of Inspiration will offer a space for creativity and promote co-creation of activities, events and resources. Each kit is curated with technology, written materials, online resources, narratives, career information, influential profiles, and app/website details.
Upon returning the kits to the Library, pupils will be able to share stories and explore further interests, nurturing their passion for engineering and computing. The project will equip students with the skills and mindset to become future leaders, bringing about a more diverse and inclusive future in engineering.
What are the expected outcomes?
The project aims to:
- inspire creativity, foster collaboration, provide hands-on learning experiences, promote interdisciplinary knowledge, encourage career exploration, and foster inclusivity and engagement among pupils
- help address educational inequality by providing access to engaging and inclusive learning opportunities for the targeted beneficiary groups
- promote greater collaboration between schools, higher education and those in STEM industry fields
- provide exposure to diverse role models and experiences within the engineering field, inspiring young people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue educational and career paths in STEM fields, promoting long-term equity and representation.
Surveys, kit check-out tracking, and participation monitoring will be regularly reviewed to assess the project’s success and address any arising issues from the beneficiary groups.
For more information please contact:
Dr Debbie Meharg, Associate Professor and Head of Applied Informatics, School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment