Young people who may have thought that scientists were \u2018boring\u2019 and \u2018nerdy\u2019 changed their minds after having an opportunity to \u2018Meet the Scientist\u2019 face-to-face.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s one of the key findings of a study published in the International Journal of Science Education <\/em>by experts from the University of Southampton\u2019s LifeLab project into student-scientist engagement.<\/p>\n The \u2018Meet the Scientist\u2019 sessions are part of a wider initiative to promote health literacy through science education.\u00a0The LifeLab project is an innovative educational intervention which actively engages with young people, teachers and researchers. The aim is to introduce the science that explains how lifestyle choices at an early age can drastically affect young people\u2019s health and the health of their future children.\u00a0 As part of the hands-on practical day, students take part in \u2018Meet the Scientist\u2019 sessions where they have the opportunity to meet and talk to scientists, from both academic and clinical backgrounds.<\/p>\n Scientists from different areas\u00a0led small group discussions with school students aged 13-15 years. Feedback from the school students showed that these short informal interactions changed the students\u2019 expectations of what scientists are like. In their post-session feedback, students pointed out that the scientists they met were not as expected because they thought \u2018of a stereotypical scientist [as] a nutty professor\u2019 or because they thought that they would be \u2018mad and posh\u2019. Instead, the students found the scientists to be \u2018normal and chatty\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cStudents have been reported to have stereotypical views of scientists as middle-aged white men in lab coats,\u201d said Kathryn Woods-Townsend, co-author of the study and Programme Manager for the LifeLab project. \u201cWe argue that a way to provide students with a more realistic view of scientists and their work is to provide them with the opportunity to interact with scientists during short, discussion-based sessions.”<\/p>\n Scientists themselves viewed the scientist\u2013student interactions as a great vehicle for science communication. Interestingly, the scientists were aware of the stereotypical images held by students and felt this needs further attention in order for students to become more interested in science.<\/p>\n The study was carried out by academics from the University of Southampton\u2019s Education School and Mathematics and Science Learning Centre. LifeLab is based at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.<\/p>\n