Outreach and Widening Participation - Workshop

Workshop on Outreach and widening participation in mathematical sciences

Date: Wednesday 21st June 2023

Time: 10am - 4pm

Location: School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Glasgow

Contact: Dr Eilidh Jack (Eilidh.Jack@Glasgow.ac.uk)

Registration: Please register for the event here

Description: Outreach and public engagement is an important staple for most higher education institutions and widening participation in HE has been a matter of importance for many years. Many initiatives, such as Maths Week Scotland and Ri Masterclasses, aim to raise the profile of mathematical sciences and develop interest in these subjects both in schools and the general public. However, outreach activities can often be aimed at gifted pupils and often fail to reach people from a more diverse range of social backgrounds. As such, women, people of colour, and disabled students are still underrepresented in mathematical sciences. As well as attracting a diverse pool of learners onto university programmes in mathematical sciences, it is also important to retain those already in higher education as evidence shows higher rates of drop-out for students from areas with higher deprivation levels, disabled students, and ethnic minority students.

The aim of this workshop is to bring together practitioners from HE institutions across the UK who are passionate about outreach and widening participation in mathematical sciences. The workshop will facilitate discussions on how HE institutions have responded to widening participation in these subject areas and identify and share areas of good practice in outreach and in the attraction and retention of those from under-represented groups. More generally, the workshop will bring together a network of people already delivering well-established outreach initiatives, as well as those interested in doing more.

Speakers Include:

  • Dr Sofiat Olaosebikan - Computer Science Academy Africa.
  • Dr Andrew Wilson - Widening Participation Summer School and Reaching Higher.
  • Elinor Flavel, Will Reynolds & Edward Solomon - Utilising students in outreach programmes.
  • Dr Kate Farrell - Data Education in Schools.

Would you be interested in presenting a short (5-10 minute) talk on an outreach/widening participation initiative you have been involved in? This could take the form of a traditional presentation or could be a live demonstration. If so, please email a title and short abstract to Eilidh.Jack@Glasgow.ac.uk by Thursday 1st June