UCL academics honoured by the Royal Society

Clockwise from left: STEM Participation and Social Justice team; Professor Tiago Branco; Professor Richard Ellis. Professor Richard Ellis (UCL Physics & Astronomy), Professor Tiago Branco (Sainsbury Wellcome Centre at UCL), and the UCL STEM Participation and Social Justice team have received prestigious awards from the Royal Society. The UCL STEM Participation and Social Justice research group, based at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, aims to make STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) more inclusive, accessible and equitable for all young people. Its research projects range from working with primary school teachers in developing a "science capital" teaching approach that helps children find more meaning and relevance in science subjects, to a longitudinal research project following young people's career aspirations from age 10 to 23. The team was awarded the Royal Society Athena Prize "for their cutting-edge research and development projects which have increased understanding, transformed practice, and led to more equitable participation in STEM". The prize recognises teams who have contributed most to the advancement of diversity in STEM. Professor Louise Archer (IOE), who leads the group, said: "It is wonderful to have the STEM Participation & Social Justice group's work recognised by the Royal Society and the scientific community.