Study of popularising science and technology in Estonia

The Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS) in collaboration with HeiVäl Consulting carried out the research on the popularisation of science and technology “Study of popularising science and technology in Estonia”, commissioned by the Estonian Research Council.

The aim of the study was to provide an overview of the current state of the popularisation of science and technology (STEM), pinpoint the developments in this field from 2013-2018 and propose recommendations and suggestions for further planning of STEM activities.

The results of the study were published in June 2019.

• The popularisation of science and technology involves activities that promote science and engineering and make them more comprehensible to the general public. It is the introduction of science and research achievements, the work of scientists and engineers, and the attraction of interest in research and the profession of scientists and engineers. The aim of these activities is to raise the interest of young people in science, including in the field of STEM and its career prospects, as well as to deepen interest and the will to act in this field, both in general and interest education and later in higher education.
• STEM field – the field of science and technology, in example mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, geography, geology, industrial arts and technology education, information and communication technologies and technical education, including engineering.

More than 500 teachers, school leaders and hobby instructors were interviewed to map STEM activities, nearly 40 experts and policy makers were interviewed, and reports on projects supported in the 2014-2017 national call for proposals for science popularization were analyzed.

The web survey lasted from the second half of August 2018 until mid-September. The information obtained during this exercise was used in a generalized and anonymous manner in the study report.

All participants in the study were given the opportunity to participate in a scientific communication conference on 21 November.

In addition, the following prizes were drawn between the participating schools:

• Participation in the “Rakett 69” final, an Estonian Public Broadcasting channel ETV hosted science show (10 students, 2 teachers),
• travel expenses for participation in the Young Scientists’ Festival (up to 50 seats for two schools).