How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed approaches to science learning online? And how will things change as museums and galleries open? On 30 July Science Gallery Dublin hosted a free learning webinar exploring the digital divide, access and equity. Watch it below.
The Science Gallery Dublin, as well as being a hub for its own community of 15-25 year olds, is a part of a wider science learning collective made up of other museums, science centres and makerspaces, as well as schools and formal education providers.
The SySTEM 2020 research project, coordinated by Science Gallery Dublin, has mapped this community throughout Ireland, and across Europe. The map contains amazing informal and non-formal learning organisations that are doing great work, and just like Science Gallery Dublin, have been innovating to continue engaging with their audiences throughout the pandemic.
As a way to celebrate the amazing science learning community within Ireland, and to share approaches and ideas about engaging our communities in the faces of some pretty big challenges this year, Science Gallery Dublin ran the webinar Science Learning: Equity, Access & Coronavirus on 30 July. Make Create Innovate, CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, Dublin Maker and CÚRAM all presented their own strategies and experiences, followed by contributions from three young people about their experience of learning in lockdown, and some great questions from the floor that covered issues like access to technology, working with schools and teachers, and diversifying museum and gallery staff members.
What was clear from the start of the discussion is that coronavirus has been a challenge for everyone, but due to structural inequalities certain young people have been harder hit than others. Those with less access to smartphones, computers, internet and mobile data have had the hardest time in terms accessing opportunities offered by organisations like Science Gallery. Throughout the webinar was talk about how working in partnership with other organisations who provide hardware (like Trinity Access Tech2Students ), or even local libraries, is key in ensuring that learning opportunities are more equitably distributed when young people don’t have access to schools.
Science Gallery Dublin has uploaded the recording of the webinar to YouTube so that if you couldn’t make it on the day, you can join in the discussion now.
Science Gallery Dublin welcome your thoughts and comments, so if you’d like to get in touch about this or future SySTEM 2020 map initiatives you can email sophie.perry@dublin.sciencegallery.com.
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