Curiosity in Action
How can creative, participatory STEM activities support youth and community work to enhance young people’s confidence, resilience and wellbeing?
Curiosity In Action was a two-year programme, running from 2023-2025, involving building an evidence-base, capacity and a network in Scotland to explore the impact of STEM in youth work funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
The action research strand included pairing youth groups across Scotland with researchers involved in STFC research - including astronomy, space science and physics - in a collaborative action research process. Together, they planned and trialled activities, explored approaches to discover what works well and looked at the impact this work has on young people.
This learning shaped a series of free training opportunities and resources developed for Community Learning and Development practitioners, researchers and science educators. We are also collectively working on publishing the findings from this work with the youth workers and researchers involved.
Alongside this work, we host the Curiosity In Communities Network. The network is open to everyone interested in the role of STEM to support Community Learning and Development (CLD) practice outcomes with and by young people. CLD practitioners, science educators, researchers and anyone else interested are invited to connect, build collaborations and share learning together.
The programme was facilitated by Science Ceilidh in partnership with Youth Link Scotland, along with partners including The Royal Observatory, Edinburgh and researchers at the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow. See the full project steering group here.
ACTION RESEARCH PROGRAMME
Curiosity In Communities Network
the curiosity in action toolkit
This toolkit is designed as a guide for anyone looking to build meaningful partnerships and support young people using STEM, whether you're a youth worker, a researcher, or a science engagement practitioner. It’s packed with resources to help you:
Strengthen partnership work
Explore an action research model
Plan and deliver STEM activities
Capture meaningful impact
Curiosity in Communities: UPCOMING community of Practice
Tuesday, 10 March 2026, 1pm-2:30pm (Free)
Join us online to connect and share learning with others interested in the role of STEM in youthwork.
The Curiosity in Communities network is open to everyone interested in the role of STEM to support Community Learning and Development (CLD) practice outcomes with and by young people. CLD practitioners, science educators, researchers and anyone else interested are invited to connect, build collaborations and share learning together.
Join the network by signing up for our mailing list here .
In this Community o Practice we will:
be sharing the learning from the Curiosity in Action programme
be launching the Year 2 learning report from the Action Research project
be facilitating breakout rooms based on the interests of those in attendance
have space for networking and exchanging resources with others interested and involved in this type of work.
Project Steering Group
This programme is facilitated by Science Ceilidh in partnership with Youthlink Scotland and a group of steering group members including Professor Catherine Heymans, Royal Observatory of Edinburgh (ROE) STFC, Abi Ashton, ROE STFC, Dr Xinran Liu, University of Edinburgh and UNDO, Dr Jean-Christophe Denis, University of Edinburgh, Dr Autumn Roesh-Marsh, University of Edinburgh Bink Hub, Professor Martin Hendry, University of Glasgow, Hilary Phillips, Youth Link Scotland, Dr Amy Calder, Youth Link Scotland and John Galt, Education Scotland. The Principal Investigator for the programme is Lewis Hou (Science Ceilidh Director). We also have developing collaborations including with SSERC Young STEM Leaders and University of Aberdeen, and are open to further connections.
This is a collaborative programme to help build momentum, evidence and connectivity across sectors to support the meaningful involvement of STEM in youth work and we’re still building collaborations and keen to connect with wider partners passionate about this work. If you’re interested in being more involved in the strategy of the network & programme please get in touch.