National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP): Outreach Strategies That Facilitate Inclusion

Abstract

To ensure that the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce of the future is inclusive of diverse peoples and ideas, there is a need to ensure that STEM outreach activities that encourage students into STEM education and careers are inclusive of and provide equity for people from diverse racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and academic backgrounds. Since 2004, the National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP), based at Macquarie University, Sydney, has been using best ethical and inclusion strategies to engage with Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students and their communities. This publication discusses the inclusion and equity strategies utilized by NISEP, including community consultation, student leadership and autonomy, volunteer mentors, and the respectful and best practice use of Indigenous knowledge. These factors have all contributed to NISEP's success in increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students' aspiration toward and engagement with secondary and tertiary education.

Educación superior y tecnologías: trazados interculturales desde los relatos de la comunidad Emberá en Antioquia, Colombia

“…Lo que se ve reflejado de muchas maneras, incluyendo el que frecuentemente se les exijan mecanismos estandarizados de acceso: postulaciones y becas, entre otros, que aunque fueran creadas aparentemente para propiciar su inclusión, contribuyen a la disminución de sus posibilidades de ingreso y de permanencia dado que desconocen los escenarios culturales propios de los pueblos indígenas (Del Popolo, 2017), y en los que además como lo explicitan Barnes et al (2021) muchos estudiantes indígenas actuales son los primeros en sus familias en emprender educación terciaria y hay una escasez de modelos indígenas a seguir con educación y calificaciones STEM para que los jóvenes indígenas se relacionen. Las prácticas de exclusión también han impedido la comprensión y la confianza de los padres indígenas en el sistema educativo y les dificulta ayudar a construir la aspiración educativa y el compromiso de sus hijos.…”

Service Learning Science Camps Among Tribals as a Tool for Capacity Building Among Students – A Step Toward Inclusive Chemistry Education

“…To the best of our knowledge, reports show that the majority of the studies on service learning programs primarily focus on urban communities. The literature shows that educational outreach programs among indigenous communities across the world have been documented. ,− However, service learning activities among Indian tribal communities have not been documented or critically investigated.…”

Development, Use, And Evaluation of Chemistry Outreach Activities Related to the Periodic Table and Sustainability

“…In addition, it provides the student leaders with STEM-related leadership opportunities. 41 In this article, the outreach activities and evaluation data from student participants are presented.…”

“…The model for our school visits was based on the successful National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP) outreach model, − with four levels of involvement: academic staff, university student volunteers, student leaders selected by their teachers, and the students themselves. This model has demonstrated significant advantages of utilizing student leaders who are only a few year levels above the participating students.…”

“…This model has demonstrated significant advantages of utilizing student leaders who are only a few year levels above the participating students. In addition, it provides the student leaders with STEM-related leadership opportunities . In this article, the outreach activities and evaluation data from student participants are presented.…”