National Forum for Public Engagement in STEM

Terms of Reference

1.Aim of the Forum

The National Forum for Public Engagement in STEM aims to bring together key funders and organisations involved in setting the national agenda for public engagement in STEM which have a shared interest in improving collaboration, co-operation and learning.

The Forum takes a broad view of ‘public engagement’ as the spectrum of activity that connects STEM and publics of all ages. These activities are broad and diverse: entertaining, informing and educating people about STEM; entering dialogue on the directions and future for STEM; and creating opportunities for people to participate in STEM activity.

The Forum is interested in ‘informal science experiences’ as activities that complement or enrich formal STEM learning.

Each Forum member has its own objectives for involvement in public engagement in STEM, yet all coalesce around the broad ambition of creating a positive and supportive environment in which STEM can flourish and benefit society.

2.Remit and Current Priorities

2.1Improve models and approaches to funding

The Forum will provide members with the opportunity to share funding mechanisms and areas of funding interest to enhance collaboration and effectiveness.

2.2Prioritise topics and identify gaps

The Forum will highlight gaps or strategic priorities in terms of topical areas, areas of public concern/interest or specific audience groups.

Current priorities identified by the Forum are:

  • under-served audiences with a focus on those from lower socio-economic backgrounds and the under-fives
  • identifying the role of public engagement in helping to maintain a strong STEM workforce
  • identification of areas where participants would like to co-ordinate on activity; e.g., coding; food and drink.

2.3Set an agenda for research

The Forum will identify priorities for future research related to public engagement.

Current priorities identified by the Forum are:

  • Public engagement and theory of change
  • The relationship between local public engagement activity and long-term impact
  • How to reach socioeconomically disadvantaged audiences

2.4Gain robust evidence to support advocacy

The Forum will share research and evidence on best practice and impact of public engagement.

The current priority identified by the Forum is to disseminate robust evidence for decision-makers and leaders to demonstrate the impact and role of informal science learning experiences.

2.5Ensure more effective evaluation

The Forum will work towards more effective approaches to and uses of evaluation, such as working with other sectors to test alternative methods and greater sharing of results.

3.Meeting Arrangements

The Forum will meet three times a year, normally in London.

4.Membership

Core membership is drawn from key organisations that have a national role in STEM public engagement and/or are major funders of STEM engagement. It is intended that a broader group of STEM public engagement providers is consulted and engaged in a two-way process to share the outcomes of the Forum and to provide insight into the discussions of the Forum.

The current core membership of the Forum is:

Name / Organisation / Job Title
Laura-Anne Brown / Senior Policy Executive / Scottish Government
Alex Burch / Head of Visitor Experience, Learning & Outreach at The Natural History Museum / National History Museum
Jenni Chambers / Head of RCUK Public Engagement with Research / RCUK
Simon Chaplin / Director of Culture & Society / Wellcome Trust
Andrew Cohen / Head of Science / RCUK
Ian Duffy / Community Engagement Manager / BP
Jon Edwards / Communications Manager / RSC
David Fletcher / Head of the Chief Scientific Adviser's Division / Welsh Assembly Government
TBC / TBC / NI Assembly
Imran Khan / Head of Public Engagement / Wellcome Trust
Johanna Kieniewicz / Head of Outreach and Engagement / IoP
Jon Kudlick / Director of Membership, Marketing & Communications / RSB
Katherine Mathieson / CEO / British Science Association
Clare Matterson / Wellcome Trust
Lesley Miles / Chief Strategy Officer / Royal Society
Tom O'leary / Director of Learning / Science Museum
Harshbir Sangha / Head of Strategy in the Science & Society team / BIS
Stephen Stanton / Policy advisor, Science, Engineering and Design &Technology Team / DFE
Jo Trigg / Head of Communications / Royal Academy of Engineering
Susannah Wiltshire / STEM Workforce Policy Team Leader / BIS

5.Roles and Responsibilities

5.1Chairperson

The Chair will:

  • ensure the Forum functions effectively and within its remit
  • provide leadership and direction to the Forum
  • act as a spokesperson/figurehead for the Forum.

Note that the logistics of the role of chair (for example, length of term, whether the Chair can stand again consecutively) are to be agreed by members of the Forum and this document modified accordingly.

5.2Secretariat

The Secretariat will:

  • provide thought leadership to, and representation of the Forum
  • provide a fit-for-purpose mechanism for:
  • consultation with the wider STEM public engagement providers on their priorities
  • dissemination of outcomes of the work of the Forum
  • correspond with the Chair and the members of the Forum
  • ensure meetings are effectively organised and minuted
  • maintain records and administration
  • be given appropriate financial support by members of the Forum, in a manner to be agreed by the Forum members.

The Secretariat will be appointed by a Tender process managed by the Wellcome Trust and BIS, who will provide funding for the first year.

6.This Document

The remit of the Forum will evolve over time, allowing the group to adapt to changes in the public engagement landscape and to react to public interests and attitudes. This document will be revised as and when members of the Forum agree new ways of working.