The EvoEd Challenge Fund was launched in autumn 2022 with a call for projects that seek to improve evolution, biodiversity and life-science education for less-advantaged pupils. A top-notch set of applications were received and reviewed by an expert panel. We acknowledge the panelists’ contribution with the greatest thanks. Grants were awarded to five project teams.
The grant winners will work on their projects through to spring 2024. Together they will form the EET’s first Community of Practice (CoP), a shared learning and knowledge development programme being stewarded by experienced staff from the British Science Association.
The EvoEd Challenge Fund CoP will let us explore techniques which we might use in the future across the EET Partner Network to improve knowledge exchange and deepen the sense of common purpose. We are thrilled to be announcing this strategic partnership with the British Science Association as an important step towards that.
We will share updates as the projects develop and the Community of Practice takes shape.
Evolution-based biodiversity education in Maio, Cabo Verde
PhD student Romy Rice, part of the Milner Centre for Evolution, will be working with a local conservation NGO and local schools in Maio, Cabo Verde. Romy will examine how well biodiversity and evolution-based educational modules enhance knowledge and community attitudes in biodiversity rich, but less economically developed countries.
Evaluating connecting with nature in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
The Galapagos Conservation Trust, in collaboration with two local community and nature conservation NGOs in Galapagos, will examine a 12-year legacy of outdoor educational programmes to extract best practice guidance for nature-positive learning and set out an evaluation framework that measures impacts on curriculum learning and individual growth.
Effectiveness of micro-interventions
Villiers Park will partner with three schools in the North East of England to explore the effectiveness of micro-interventions in the life sciences which extend curriculum learning and are expected to improve motivation, agency and career aspirations.
Plants, people and places: North Kensington
Grow2Know, in partnership with a local secondary school in West London, North Kensington and building on educational concepts explored as part of the Urban Nature Project, will immerse students in redevelopment of a garden to increase their connection to nature, their sense of community ownership, and their understanding of landscape design and environmental science.
Impactful community engagement
The Cambridge Science Centre will participate in the EvoEd Challenge Fund Community of Practice to further develop their Theory of Change and evaluation strategy for impactful community engagement, potentially by exploring STEM club educational activities.
