Innovative approach to communication encouraging girls to study science

Topic description

Scope:

Specific challenge:

To attract more women to research careers, the Commission launched in 2012 the communication campaign "Science: it's a girl thing!", which aims at encouraging 13-18 years old girls to study science. Young people often make career-critical decisions at this age and either orientate towards or away from scientific subjects. Girls tend to drop out of Science, Technology, Engeneering and Mathematics (STEM) for various reasons linked in particular to the social roles they expect or are expected to play as well as the way STEM subjects are taught. In order to better attract and retain female students, science and educational institutions should reconsider their external communication and the way STEM subjects are taught.

Scope:

This topic will support awareness raising activities (workshops, seminars, hands-on activities, etc.) to be carried out with the contribution of gender experts. Activities will involve role models, and will bring together actors such as schools, science museums; research centres, etc, strengthening their interactions. Collaboration with regional/national authorities will be appreciated. Activities shall cover at least 14 countries. Activities will be carried out in the umbrella of the campaign "Science it's a girl thing".

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 0.6 and 0.9 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

This action allows for the provision of financial support to third parties in line with the conditions set out in Part K of the General Annexes.

Expected impact:

In the short term, the action will contribute to change the way science is communicated and increase the participation and interest of girls in STEM.  It will encourage sustainable collaboration among schools, science museums, research centres, on gender equality in science. In the long term, it will contribute towards European Research Area objectives, by increasing the number of female researchers in Europe.  It will also contribute to the Innovation Union objectives by better matching skills to available jobs.

Type of action: Coordination and Support Actions.

Gender