CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF PROJECT In the last years we have realized in ours schools that the number of students studying experimental sciences was decreasing year after year. Students did not choose scientific options up to the point that biology could not be taught in 4th eso (secondary) during the school year 2006-2007 (in Spain) due to the lack of registered students. Concerned about the problem, the Department of Experimental Sciences began to analyze the possible causes and we soon realized it was a global phenomenon. The same problem was taking place both in Spain and in Europe. The usual teaching of Physics and Chemistry does not take it into account and focuses on the quantitative and operational aspects and ignores some aspects of science which, according to the research in didactics, could contribute to increase the interest towards those subjects as a more qualitative, experimental, more contextualised treatment, showing its contributions to solve human problems and needs. It is in this last sentence where we find the leitmotiv of our project. OBJECTIVES As a general objective we want to achieve that students, under equal conditions, show more interest in the study of STEM as a result of methodological changes. This project will reach both students with good academic results and students with special educational needs or students at risk of dropping out of school. Secondary Objectives: -The project aims that women feel attracted by STEM subjects as an opportunity, as any other, to get a foothold in society. -Increasing the qualitative character of the STEMs offered in partners schools in order to attract students' interest in science, whatever their academic level. This project also aims to reduce school dropout by making science more contextualized, more practical so that any student may feel attracted to them. -Contextualizing at least one didactic unit for each branch of science worked to bring them closer to students's day-to-day life so that they are attracted to science. NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS The project will reach a minimum of 600 students (50 in mobilities) aged between 15-19 from low and upper secondary students and about 60 teachers including STEM teachers and other teachers (from other subjects). A minimum of 600 families will also be reached (50 in mobilities) in addition to companies, universities and science museums. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES We aim to give the five mobilities a scientific congress format with all the details and paraphernalia surrounding a real scientific congress, in order to make the students feel and experience as if they were real scientists. The congresses are the core line of the project, around which a number of activities, products and events are generated before, during and after the congress. METHODOLOGY Before congresses each school must prepare a practice related to the branch of science that the next Congress will deal with. Teachers to direct that practice will preferably use and take advantage of what the science curriculum in their country offers. In this way it is ensured that these practices are integrated into the syllabus of the school's science subject. On the other hand, the Congresses have allowed us to establish a clear and homogeneous structure of the visits. As we have said before, we intend to give a "professional" format, therefore there will be a keynote lecture led by a scientist of some significance in the host country, an exhibition of science communications, workshops where students will carry out the practices, a visit to the school and a presentation of the science curriculum in each country, a training visit to a university / museum and a company related to the congress branch of science, an informal training visit to the school's surroundings and, lastly, a closing ceremony. RESULTS - We will carry out 3 surveys to students and families involved in the project/country to find out their interest in STEM. To observe the interest of the target groups. - Publication of a digital book showing: new laboratory practices, the importance of women in Science, changes made in STEM/country curricula (more experimental, less theoretical, content adapted to students with special educational needs, inclusive and helping to alleviate early school leaving). - Scientific papers and posters presented by the different partners at each congress - Students from the different partner countries will participate in the Experience Fair organized by the University of Valencia showing their experiments. IMPACT/POTENCIAL BENEFITS Digital publishing of all project's products will allow to prolong in time the use of practices and teaching units. Likewise, the fact that they are easily accessible will allow many teachers and, therefore, many students to take advantage of those practices. Finally, we would like this project to wake up in some of the participating students (boys and girls) the wish to pursue science studies and become scientists.
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF PROJECT In the last few years, teachers from Escuela Profesional La Salle, Paterna (Spain), realized in their school that the number of students studying experimental sciences was decreasing year after year. Students did not choose scientific options up to the point that biology could not be taught in 4th grade ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education) during the school year 2006-2007 due to the lack of registered students. Concerned about the problem, the school’s department of experimental sciences began to analyse the possible causes and soon realized it was a global phenomenon. The same problem was taking place both in Spain and Europe. The usual teaching of physics and chemistry focuses on the quantitative and operational aspects, ignoring some features of science which, according to the research in didactics, could contribute to increase the interest towards those subjects as a more qualitative, experimental and contextualized treatment, showing their contributions to solve human problems and needs. And it is here, in this last sentence, where we found the leitmotif of the present project. This project is made up of schools from Spain (coordinating center), Belgium, Italy, Latvia and Portugal, all working unanimously and in a balanced way in the preparation and execution of each meeting. OBJECTIVES As a general objective, we want to achieve that students, under equal conditions, show more interest in the study of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as a result of methodological changes. This project has reached students with good academic results, students with special educational needs and students at risk of dropping out of school. Among the secondary objectives, this project aims: - that women feel attracted by STEM subjects as an opportunity, as any other, to get a foothold in society. - to increase the qualitative character of the STEM subjects offered in partners schools in order to attract students' interest in science, whatever their academic level. - to contextualize at least one didactic unit for each branch of science worked to bring them closer to students’ day-to-day life so that they are attracted to science. NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS The project has reached a minimum of 600 students (of which an average of 30 have participated in each mobility) aged between 15-19 from low and upper secondary students and about 60 teachers including STEM teachers and other teachers (from other subjects). A minimum of 600 families have also been involved (only 10 in mobilities because of the Covid19 restrictions) along with companies, universities and science museums. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES All the mobilities have taken the form of a scientific congress with all kinds of details and paraphernalia that surround a real one to make students feel and experience what it is like to be a true scientist. In fact, at the last meeting in Spain we have participated in the Experimenta Fair 2022 Valencia, a contest where they have competed with other groups and presented their experiments to both the jury and the visiting public. The congresses have been therefore the core line of the project, but other activities, products and events have been equally generated and carried out before, during and after each one: a keynote lecture led by a scientist of some significance in the host country, an exhibition of science communications, workshops where students carried out the practices, a visit to the school and a presentation of the science curriculum in each country, a training visit to a university or museum and a company related to the congress branch of science, an informal training visit to the school's surroundings and, lastly, a closing ceremony. RESULTS Among the results obtained from the project, we find: - 2 surveys carried out to students and families involved in the project to find out how their interest in STEM subjects changes throughout the project, - new laboratory practices (more experimental, less theoretical, content adapted to students with special educational needs, inclusive and helping to alleviate early school leaving), - lesson plans and posters presented by the different partners at each congress, - biographies of women scientists who have inspired students, - a web page and a digital book that collects all the information, development and products of the project. IMPACT/POTENCIAL BENEFITS Digital publishing of all project's products will allow to prolong in time the use of practices and teaching units. Likewise, the fact that they are easily accessible will allow many teachers and, therefore, many students to take advantage of those practices, so we trust in their usefulness and future source of inspiration for other centres and projects. For the students involved, we hope that participation in the project is a first step in the world of science, but above all that they never forget (neither they nor the close agents) that Science is all around.