Effect of a role model-based show on the STEM aspirations of primary school students

Abstract

A STEM outreach show called ‘Who wants to be a Superhero’ went into primary schools across England and Wales, delivered by professional science communicators.  The show was structured around four female STEM role models and two male STEM role models as part of a wider narrative about scientists and engineers being real-life superheroes. The show was found to increase both boys’ and girls’ aspirations for a STEM career, with a bigger effect seen in the girls. The intervention also increased positive attitudes, and decreased negative attitudes, towards scientists measured through word association given by the audiences pre- and post-show. There was a larger reduction in negative stereotypes from the girls after the show, especially in the ‘nerdy’ and ‘crazy’ stereotypes. The show saw an increase in both boys’ and girls’ perceptions of the ‘helpful’ nature of science and engineering. It was also found that some students may not want to do a STEM job because of the perceived dangerous nature of the job.