Partnerships
Relevance to life experience, personalisation and localisation are key elements of STEM engagement. In this section we explore how working in partnership ensures your activity suits the needs of the participant and avoids a ‘parachuting in’ approach where communities are talked ‘at’ by STEM engagement professionals.
Why work in partnership?
Equitable partnerships are fundamental to good, community-based informal science learning and engagement.
Finding the right partners
Strong partnerships with community organisations enable the co-production of programmes which work with and for our diverse communities.
Allow enough time
Partnership building requires an investment of time for both sides that should not be taken lightly, and it should have an organisation-level…
Challenge power dynamics
Challenge power dynamics It is easy to underestimate, or not be aware of, the implicit power that comes from being an ‘institution’,…
Levels of co-production
Partnerships can reach all levels and departments within organisations and with wider stakeholders. It is important to agree with your partner what…