Chemistry Crossing Borders
We have joined Native Scientists – an award-winning pan-European non-profit organisation – to launch a new project to promote chemical sciences outreach activities for migrant children.
Native Scientists have announced a new co-operation with the Royal Society of Chemistry. Joining forces, our two organisations aim to foster STEM education in migrant children’s heritage language, focusing on chemical sciences.
Starting from next year, researchers in the chemical sciences will coordinate or mentor science outreach workshops that will take place across the UK.
Afonso Bento, Lead of the Same Migrant Community Programme, says, “This co-operation with the Royal Society of Chemistry will allow Native Scientists to deepen its reach within the UK, in particular in regards to uniquely disadvantaged groups - such as refugees and asylum seekers - but also within the chemical sciences community".
The Royal Society of Chemistry's mission is to support and represent a membership of more than 50,000, working in the chemical sciences in over 100 countries, in universities, schools, multinational companies, small and medium enterprises, governments, regulatory agencies, civil society organisations and NGOs. The cooperation with Native Scientists is an opportunity to bring together chemical scientists and students from the same migrant communities, where they will carry out outreach activities in their shared heritage language.
Hania Tayara is a Public Engagement Specialist at the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Native Scientists volunteer. She says: "The RSC collaboration with Native Scientists will enable us to empower chemical scientists from migrant backgrounds to engage their communities with science in their heritage languages. That's really important in working towards a genuinely equitable scientific community, that is both representative of and benefits from the diverse backgrounds and experiences of all its members.
"I can personally vouch for the positive experience I've had as a volunteer with Native Scientists. That gives me confidence that our shared values mean this partnership will deliver public engagement initiatives that reach into underserved communities, such as refugee and asylum-seeking children."
Join in...
If you’re interested, you can register here, so the Native Scientists team can better understand what role you can play. You can either be an organiser, making workshops possible and practising leadership, project management and networking skills, or a mentor, communicating your work to children and practising communications skills, adaptability and creativity. Both are voluntary roles.
About Native Scientists
Founded in 2013, Native Scientists is an award-winning pan-European non-profit organisation connecting underserved children with scientists. It exists to broaden children’s horizons, promoting scientific literacy and reducing inequalities through science outreach educational programmes.