DUNDEE Science Centre has been awarded £15,000 to become part of a national community engagement project to help engage under-served and under-represented communities.
Joining the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) Project Inspire: Digital Engagement and Innovation Programme will allow the centre to identify barriers which might dissuade some individuals and families from engaging.
It will establish their preferences, help trial and develop new ways for them to engage digitally, as well as liaising with charities supporting some of these under-served communities.
The centre’s head of development, Rebecca Duncan, said: “We have made huge leaps when it comes to community engagement and, over the years, have positioned ourselves as leaders in this field. We have taken a huge range of fun and educational activities out to families, school pupils and others who perhaps felt detached from us, or unsure if Dundee Science Centre was for them.”
She added: “However, we can’t assume that everyone digests our content and activities the same way – some people struggle with literacy or IT skills.
“Others might feel that ‘science’ isn’t for them – or perhaps they want to get involved in our online activities but don’t have access to the internet. This project will allow us to work with families and local charities ... to establish what they’d like to see from us in the future, and how we can deliver these activities and programmes in a way that suits them.”
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