On 19th February, MUSICC had the privilege of running a workshop on public engagement and the MUSICC project as part of Imperial College London’s STEM Futures programme.
Students discussed the definition and purpose of public engagement as part of the session.
STEM Futures is a multi-year initiative supporting students of Black heritage, who are interested in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEM). Because Black people remain underrepresented across STEM fields, it can be challenging for young Black students to access first-hand guidance on next steps in their education or future careers. This programme helps students explore the wide range of STEM subjects and provides support in navigating pathways into university.
The workshop was delivered by members of MUSICC’s Coordination Team, alongside Clinical Research Nurses from Imperial’s Department of Infectious Disease. The Clinical Research Nurse team work directly on the human challenge studies taking place at Imperial within the MUSICC project. The combination of these teams provided the Year 12 students with a unique insight into how different elements of the project come together.
There were a lot of great ideas on show as students collaborated well on the activities.
Throughout the session, students took part in hands-on activities that introduced the core ideas behind creating public engagement activities in STEM. They explored topics such as identifying learning outcomes, shaping key messages and adapting communication for different audiences. There was a real buzz in the room as students threw themselves into each activity with enthusiasm.
Students then put their new skills into practice by creating t-shirts designs aimed at spreading awareness of the MUSICC project. The results were thoughtful, imaginative and purpose-driven, reflecting the care and creativity each group brought to the task. The workshop wrapped up with a panel discussion featuring MUSICC staff, giving the students chance to ask questions about the project and learn more about careers in STEM.
The students produced eye-catching and innovative designs, including games and motivatonal messages.
For MUSICC, this was a really successful engagement opportunity to engage with a new audience. It was also very fulfilling and enjoyable working with the Year 12 students. Their questions and ideas were insightful and reflective, offering valuable perspectives on how different audiences may perceive MUSICC’s work.
The t-shirts, kindly donated by the students, now serve as excellent engagement pieces for future events, showcasing their ideas, effort and creativity.
A positive and successful workshop ends with an insightful and creative group.
