Speaker
Description
The Innovation, Diversity, Exploration, and Advancement in STEM (IDEAS) Initiative has recently been launched at Queen’s University. The IDEAS Initiative utilizes a multi-generational approach to diversity and outreach, aiming to coordinate historically under-represented individuals within STEM to foster an interest towards the natural sciences in Canadian youths. The IDEAS Initiative is a major EDII and outreach arm of both the Arthur B. McDonald Canadian Astroparticle Physics Research Institute and the Queen’s University Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy.
The IDEAS Initiative has run an extensive suite of outreach programmes following this methodology since 2019.Volunteer scientists lead experiments, projects, and confidence building activities both in-person and online to encourage development of self-identity and a sense of belonging to STEM in the participants. In parallel, the IDEAS Initiative provide opportunities for volunteers to participate in teaching and outreach training workshops as a cornerstone of a network-building objective, which is then utilized to maximize impact. Pedagogy, performance, and future prospects of the IDEAS Initiative will be discussed.
