Presentation from Young (science) apprentice at the 2013 Science Communication Conference organised by the British Science Association - slides by Kenny Webster

1. Young People in an
adventure with Scientists
Dr Kenny Webster
Learning and Operations Manager
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
@kennywebster

3. Thinktank SHCL - Vision
• Local community
– create paid opportunities and develop transferable skills for local young
people
• Science/ learning
– raise awareness of and encourage young people to follow careers in
science/ heritage
• Thinktank
– staff become more representative of local communities and being
advocates for the museum
• Museum sector
– trained individuals armed with the skills necessary to carry out entry-level
museum jobs

4. The Career Ladder Model
• Hierarchy of paid experiences in the museum
• New York Hall of Science have been running a
career ladder for over 25 years
• Programme recruits, trains and pays students to
work as Explainers
• 150 people in their program

5. SHCL
• Who is our audience?
– Young people
– Living or studying locally
– Still in education
– People with available time
• College students over the
Summer Holiday

6. SHCL
• Who is confident but not too confident
• Who can understand the concept of enabling
• Who can follow instructions
• Who shows enthusiasm for the role

7. 2008 - 2012
• Recruited through local colleges
• Careers events, careers advisors
• 31 Traineeships
• 12 Volunteers
• 8 permanent staff
• An army of casual staff!

8. What do they learn?
• Customer Service
• Practical ‘Enabling’ - communicating
• Disability and Diversity awareness
• Care of Collections
• Career advice and assistance
• Transferable skills
• Cultural skills

9. The future?
• ACE funding to extend to other Birmingham Museum sites
• Cultural Career Ladders
• Absorbed the work experience programme into the SHCL
• Ignite - Thinktank Young People’s Forum
• Creating a clearer engagement journey for young people

10. Young People in an
adventure with Scientists
Dr Kenny Webster
Learning and Operations Manager
Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum
@kennywebster