Dr Laura Hobbs' Outputs (100)

Evolutionary education in a virtual natural history museum (2020)
Journal Article

Exploring coral reef conservation in Minecraft (2020)
Journal Article

Making STEM for everyone: Reaching under-served audiences (2020)
Journal Article

Science Hunters: Teaching science concepts in schools using Minecraft (2019)
Journal Article

Background
Science Hunters is an outreach project based at Lancaster University, UK. It uses the computer game Minecraft, alongside interactive discussion and hands-on demonstrations, to engage children with scientific research topics and science l... Read More about Science Hunters: Teaching science concepts in schools using Minecraft.

How Minecraft is making science more appealing to students with autism (2019)
Journal Article

Catch 22 - improving visibility of women in science and engineering for both recruitment and retention (2019)
Journal Article

There is a significant under-representation of women in STEM which is damaging societal progress for democratic, utilitarian, and equity reasons. However, changing stereotypes in STEM requires a solution denied by the problem-more visible female role... Read More about Catch 22 - improving visibility of women in science and engineering for both recruitment and retention.

Using Minecraft to engage children with science at public events (2019)
Journal Article

Engagement with science and scientific skills is an important aspect of children's ability to navigate the world around them, but engagement with science is low in comparison with other subjects. The Lancaster University outreach project Science Hunt... Read More about Using Minecraft to engage children with science at public events.

Women Like Me Executive Summary 2019 (2019)
Report

Only 11% of engineers in the UK are women. For democratic, utilitarian and equity reasons this is not enough. Both recruitment and retention are important – more girls need to connect with engineering as a creative, socially conscious, collaborative... Read More about Women Like Me Executive Summary 2019.

Engaging younger children with STEM (2019)
Other

Communicating STEM through Minecraft (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Science Hunters uses the computer game Minecraft to engage children with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, utilising elements such as an all-female core team to boost representation in STEM for girls, the accessibility and popularity of the... Read More about Communicating STEM through Minecraft.

“So we can’t bring a volcano into the classroom…” Communicating geosciences through digital media (2019)
Journal Article

There are many fascinating, exciting and important aspects of geoscience that we just cannot physically bring
into classrooms and public engagement events in all their glory. Volcanic eruptions, using drones to combat
environmental crime, museum ex... Read More about “So we can’t bring a volcano into the classroom…” Communicating geosciences through digital media.

A global database and grading system for the deposition of supraglacial volcanic airfall (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Volcanic airfall (defined here as any material, such as volcanic ash, that falls from an eruption plume and cools before deposition) lands on glaciers, ice sheets, permafrost and snowfields worldwide. The interactions between these deposits and glaci... Read More about A global database and grading system for the deposition of supraglacial volcanic airfall.

Science Hunters: An inclusive approach to engaging with science through Minecraft (2019)
Journal Article

Science Hunters is an outreach project which employs the computer game Minecraft to engage children with scientific learning and research through school visits, events, and extracurricular clubs. We principally target children who may experience barr... Read More about Science Hunters: An inclusive approach to engaging with science through Minecraft.

MI STEM: Improving visibility of minorities at STEM events (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Improving visibility of minorities at STEM events

Digging deep into geosciences with Minecraft (2018)
Journal Article

Imagine yourself in a world where everything is made up of cubes. Colorful blocks represent rocks, trees, water, and animals. An erupting volcano produces blocks of flowing lava. A cave contains cubes of iron and gold ore.

Sound familiar? This is... Read More about Digging deep into geosciences with Minecraft.

Making STEM for everyone: Resources for supporting people from under-represented groups to engage with Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering (2018)
Other

A resource compilation

This document provides a compilation of resources for supporting people from under-represented groups to study STEM subjects, enter STEM careers and see that STEM subjects can be ‘for them’.

The list is arranged in a seri... Read More about Making STEM for everyone: Resources for supporting people from under-represented groups to engage with Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering.

Environmental education and engagement using a construction play computer game (2018)
Journal Article

Science Hunters is a university outreach project which engages children of all ages with learning about science and the environment using the popular computer game, Minecraft. A learner-centred constructivist approach using anchored instruction and c... Read More about Environmental education and engagement using a construction play computer game.

Engaging Young Carers With Science Through Textile-Based Crafts (2018)
Journal Article

© 2018, © The Author(s) 2018. Textile-based crafts were used to engage young carers (under 18s providing care for another person) and accompanying adults in learning about underlying chemistry concepts, in an economically deprived area of northwest E... Read More about Engaging Young Carers With Science Through Textile-Based Crafts.

Science hunters: Widening participation through computer games (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Three projects which use evidence- and research-based practice to engage and support three under-served audiences: children with SEN; young carers; and girls in engineering. Our outcomes offer findings and insights into engaging these audiences and m... Read More about Science hunters: Widening participation through computer games.

Engaging an under-represented group through science and textile crafts: Science from the Start young carer workshops at Cotton On (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution

Three projects which use evidence- and research-based practice to engage and support three under-served audiences: children with SEN; young carers; and girls in engineering. Our outcomes offer findings and insights into engaging these audiences and m... Read More about Engaging an under-represented group through science and textile crafts: Science from the Start young carer workshops at Cotton On.