Improving collaboration among science educators A career in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) can offer exciting opportunities and challenges. However young Europeans are showing a reluctance to get on board with science: in fact, we are currently seeing a decline of around 10% in terms of... A career in the fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) can offer exciting opportunities and challenges. However young Europeans are showing a reluctance to get on board with science: in fact, we are currently seeing a decline of around 10% in terms of numbers of STEM graduates. Our young people are missing out on employment opportunities, and the EU is missing out on talented future scientists. SCIENTIX, a space for collaboration among science educators, is seeking ways to tackle this growing problem by building a European community for science and maths education - a community which supports the primary and secondary science teachers who are influencing our reluctant young science students on a daily basis. Since 2009, this project has been promoting and supporting a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM educators by facilitating regular dissemination and sharing of know-how and best practices in science education. Over its first six years, it gathered 200 publicly-funded science education projects, and 1,000 STEM teaching and learning materials. From plant science projects in primary schools to ICT initiatives for innovative science teachers, the database of projects offers a huge range of activities for European science educators to get involved in or inspired by. Now in its sixth year, SCIENTIX is building on this impressive bank of online knowledge and expanding to the national level. It is establishing a network of National Contact Points (NCPs) covering 30 European countries with the aim of connecting with STEM education professionals, organising national workshops, webinars and networking events. While projects such as the FP7-funded INGENIOUS work to bring together industry and educators in the fields of STEM, SCIENTIX is a space wholly dedicated to educational professionals. Speaking about this new phase of the project, a representative of SCIENTIX noted, 'The SCIENTIX project is now entering a new phase. The focus of the project will shift more towards the teachers and educators who drive the project forward. The most important innovation is certainly the newly established network of SCIENTIX National Contact Points but we have also significantly expanded our Teacher Panel, which now consists of 90 teachers from across Europe. Marc Durando, Executive Director of European Schoolnet which manages SCIENTIX, added, 'The ultimate goal is to inspire young people in their studies and to pursue STEM careers. But first, we must inspire change in STEM education policy and practice. We believe that SCIENTIX is a perfect fit for this task'.For more information, please visit: SCIENTIX http://www.SCIENTIX.eu Project factsheet Countries Belgium
