New scheme to deliver science activities in prisons
Problem solving, independent learning and teamwork are some of the skills researchers at St Andrews University hope to share with prisoners.
St Andrews University is taking part in a pioneering new project to get prisoners learning about science.
It is hoped Cell Block Science will teach inmates at HMP Cornton Vale, HMP Low Miss and HMP Shotts better problem solving and team work skills.
It is also aiming to provide learning opportunities in subjects that are under-represented in the current prison learning centre curriculum.
Mhairi Stewart, Public Engagement Officer at the University of St Andrews and the project lead, said: "Many learners have expressed an interest in key science subjects as shown in regular learner forums and annual learner surveys.
“As a consequence, a number of learning centres have trialled some limited STEM engagement activity delivered on an ad hoc basis with academics and specialists visiting for a one off session on their research area. These visits regularly create great engagement, curiosity and demand for follow on which we can meet through this project.”
Ryan Dobbin, Learning Centre manager at HMP Shotts, said: “Science has been an area of the curriculum which has not featured heavily in prison learning and this project, I hope, will help lift the profile of science in prison learning, help us engage with more learners and provide (for the duration of the project) a science element to what we deliver.”
The project officer and researchers will use regular visits to the prisons to evaluate the areas of interest and widen the programme to include a series of science based projects at differing levels.
Project outputs will be in the form of science communication such as posters, accessible reports and newspaper-style articles and will be presented at the internal ‘Cell Block Science Fair’ event in 2017.