MAKERS - Making and knowledge exchange for repair & sustainability
Fogg Rogers, Laura; Corbett, Kat
Authors
Dr Laura Fogg Rogers Laura.Foggrogers@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor of Knowledge Exchange in Engineering
Kat Corbett
Abstract
Research indicates that STEM activities which draw on wider societal or environmental purpose (communal goals) are more attractive to women. Maker projects have also been shown to improve identity and agency in STEM for black men and encourage engagement for other minorities. This sits alongside the Climate and Ecological Emergency, with students indicating a desire to make a difference locally.
UWE Bristol’s School of Engineering therefore developed the MAKERS project (Making and Knowledge Exchange for Repair and Sustainability), with funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering Diversity Impact Programme and supported by the Inspire Sustainability outreach programme. The project aims to improve belonging and identification as engineers for students from diverse backgrounds, through connecting with traditional skills and community knowledge.
Working with local community groups linked to our Climate Action Hub means we can empathise with community needs, imagine creative and collaborative sustainable solutions, and prototype and test these innovative ideas in partnership with regional industry and education partners. We have co-developed four design and repair projects with local groups from areas of multiple deprivation, with the aim of democratising engineering through connections to live projects from diverse local communities and non-traditional design disciplines. The project has also enabled UWE Bristol’s staff and students to take Climate Action through launching and running a new Repair Café on campus which is open to the wider community.
This presentation details the project progress and the initial evaluation findings, exploring community group perceptions and measures of student belonging and engagement.
