This document discusses measuring the impact of informal science learning. It notes that informal science programs aim to achieve goals like inspiration, engagement, encouraging students to study science, and developing a world-leading scientific workforce, but that the effect varies for each person. It also discusses the challenges in measuring impact given that different programs have slightly different aims. Examples are provided of potential impacts, like increasing students' interest in and confidence with science. The importance of informal science in developing skills, confidence, and passion for learning science is discussed.

1. Measuring the impact of Informal Science Learning
Dr Penny Fidler

2. The Big Question
What are we trying to achieve?

3. Inspiration, Engagement, Family Learning,
Involvement, dialogue, passion, enjoyment,
encouraging school students to study science,
world-leading scientific workforce, creativity,
entrepreneurship

4. Why is it so tricky?

5. Each programme and activity is trying to achieve
slightly different aims
And, the effect is different on each person
Children in a Turkish Science centre (attitudinal)

6. Students doing high-end molecular biology for the
first time

7. Scientists discovering that the public is hugely interested
in their work and asks really interesting questions
Students meeting a ‘real scientist’ and seeing they are
normal!

8. What are you trying to achieve?
•Promoting an interest in science and encouraging
young people to embark on a career in science
(utilitarian)
•As a creative and cultural pursuit, in the same
way that theatres and galleries are thought to be
a valid and important thing (cultural).
Science as a natural human pursuit

9. 20 million
participants
every year

10. For many, their actions and impacts fall into a
variety of realms
•Social
•Economic
•Cultural
•Intellectual and educational
•Emotional
•Environmental
•Their impacts can be felt locally, regionally and
nationally
•Impacts can be both long-term and short-term.
KPIs, Strategic Goals,
Funded Programme Goals

11. We talk about engaging and inspiring, but what is most important to
us? Is it building STEM skills or increasing Confidence, Enjoyment
and Passion to learn and discover more?

13. The project vision
To make high quality engaging molecular biology
experiences accessible to students across the UK

14. What did the students think?
Evaluation forms from 1500 students in 15 UK centres
(results here from half those participants, aged 14-16)
• 90% felt it increased their interest in science
• 95% felt it increased their confidence in them being able to
understand this area of science
• 74% felt it made them think that working in science might be
interesting

15. Confidence
Confidence to experiment, to fail, to seek new ideas,
and to take risks

16. Thank you
Dr Penny Fidler
www.sciencecentres.org.uk

17. Guangdong Science Center, Guangzhou, China
Our success economically demands that we invest heavily in
the sciences. A key part of this is to invest in informal science
learning to ensure a vibrant economy in the future