This Winners Session presents the Top 10 Breakthroughs in the Science Engagement category. These passionate ambassadors of science are reaching for the stars with projects on the universe and astrophysics, creating accessibility to these subjects for refugees, the public, and people with vision impairments. The fascination for and potential of science are brought to a diverse audience, from young people in underprivileged rural communities in India and Africa to inmates in Scottish prisons. Meanwhile, in Australia, an escape room for cancer education is educating its players on cancer prevention and therapeutics challenges, while in Germany scientists and angler communities are generating ecological knowledge to foster sustainable fisheries. Jury Chair Melanie Smallman summarises: “During 2020, the importance of science, but also the importance of breaking down the wall between science and society has never been clearer. It’s about providing information and educating people, but it’s really important as well that we listen to those people that think science isn’t for them. So we can make sure to engage with them in the future, and not leave them behind.”
We are delighted to announce the ten winners in the category Science Engagement Initiatives:
NICOLAS BONNE – INSTITUTE OF COSMOLOGY AND GRAVITATION, UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH
Breaking the Wall to Astronomy for the Vision-Impaired
Bonne’s outreach project is developing accessible teaching resources and workshops to make current topics in astrophysics, traditionally a visual science, accessible to young people with vision impairments.
MHAIRI STEWART – UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
Breaking the Wall of Engagement In Prisons
Stewart’s project brings informal science learning to the learning centres of 6 Scottish prisons and provides a platform for researchers to develop confidence and skills in engagement.
KEN DUTTON-REGESTER – EXCITE SCIENCE
Breaking The Wall of Cancer Education
Using an escape room as a unique and innovative platform, Excite Science explains the complexities of cancer through an immersive experience, as the world’s first portable cancer biology-themed puzzle room.
SANDRA BENITEZ HERRERA – GALILEOMOBILE, SPAIN
Breaking The Wall of Astronomy and The Sahrawi Refugees
The project facilitates the development of scientific skills and critical thinking through teacher workshops, hands-on activities and sky observations in local schools, contributing to the improvement of the quality of teaching in the Sahrawi refugee community.
SOFÍA OTERO-CAVADA – ANDEAN GEOTHERMAL CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
Breaking the Wall to Energy Trapped in the Earth
In a public-space pop-up exhibition, guests are guided through interactive panels and a life-size volcano, through the use of augmented reality. The exhibition addresses the issues of volcanoes: formation, eruptions and their influence on culture.
SUSAN MURABANA OWEN- THE TRAVELLING TELESCOPE, KENYA
Breaking the Wall of the Travelling Telescope
By bringing a 12- inch computerised telescope and an 8-meter portable planetarium to schools and public places, the project focuses on inspiring people into science and technology through astronomy.
OSCAR CONTRERAS-VILLARROEL – FUNDACION CIENCIA JOVEN
Breaking the Wall to a Youth-Led Science World
With the Bayer Kimlu Science Fellowship, Contreras-Villarroel is shaping the next generation of STEM leaders in Latin America through a 10-day youth STEM-leadership science camp and continued Kimlu network.
ROBERT ARLINGHAUS – HUMBOLDT-UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN
Breaking the Wall to Sustainable Fisheries
Arlinghaus is building on the joint execution of large-scale field experiments in cooperation with scientists and angler communities to generate high-quality ecological knowledge co-produced by science and stakeholders.
ANIL PRADHAN – NAVONMESH PRASAR FOUNDATION
Breaking the Wall of Unemployment
Pradhan’s initiative aims to improve the quality of education in rural and semi-rural areas in India through programs on innovation, science, and technology by organizing short term programs for students.
MOHAMED DAOUD – THE FUNLAB, EGYPT
Breaking the Wall to Reaching the Unreachable
A mobile science bus aims to reach out to the underprivileged communities of Egypt through edutainment hands-on activities and spark their passion in science and inspire them to choose science and technology fields for their studies and careers and highlight science’s vital influence on Egypt’s social and economic development.