We make our future: Final project report

Fogg Rogers, Laura; Cockbill, Louisa

Abstract

We Make Our Future is a planetarium show developed by the Inspire Sustainability team at UWE Bristol and outreach experts Explorer Dome. The show celebrates the ingenuity of human engineering, and our potential to tackle huge problems such as the Climate and Ecological Emergency. This Ingenious grant had two aims; one was to train diverse engineers in storytelling and presentation skills, and the other was to increase the diversity of backgrounds and jobs showcased to children within the sustainability solutions show.
Overall, 29 diverse engineers took part in storytelling training; 68% were female, 36% were from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority background, and 53% worked in industry. After training, 63% said they were ‘quite confident’ to engage with young people, correlating with improvements in average Engineering Outreach Self-Efficacy scores from 6.03 to 7.25 out of 10. Four engineers went on to take part in filming for the We Make Our Future show.
The films were then shown in 77 viewings of the show to 2065 children aged between 8 to 15 years old. All 17 schools taking part were in deprived areas, with 43% of children eligible for Free School Meals. Survey responses from children (N=911) indicated 93% enjoyed the show and 83% stated they had learnt something new about engineering. The children showed a high interest in green jobs, with 86% stating they had found out how engineering can help the world and 77% interested in finding out more about solutions to save the planet from climate change.
School teachers (N=41) rated the children’s enjoyment of the show as M=4.62 (out of 5) and thought the show would inspire children to take action on sustainability issues (M=4.44). The teachers rated children’s knowledge of engineering, and this improved from 54% before the show to 76% after the show. Teachers also indicated their personal experience of the show, with 100% indicating they enjoyed the show and would recommend it to others.
The project successfully raised awareness about how engineering can help people and planet, and inspired children to take action in their local area or in their future careers. Working with diverse engineers showcased relatable people and career pathways to young people from deprived backgrounds. The project introduced engineering as a relevant and attainable aspiration for thousands of young people, highlighting how the engineering design process can initiate change in our society and tackle climate change.

• Report Type: Project Report
• Deposit Date: Aug 30, 2023
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11068195