Informal magazine July 2018 09 Informal Magazine JULY 18 | Page 7

COMMUNITY
Taking Science Education
to Next Level
S
cience Fuse is working to change the way
science is perceived and communicated
across classrooms in Pakistan and inspiring
children from diverse socioeconomic
backgrounds to pursue STEM (science,
technology, engineering and mathematics) education and
careers.
Our philosophy is: ‘to encourage and promote cu riosity
and questioning; to ‘assist discovery’ and we do this
through being engaging, making things memorable and
being inspiring.’ We give children an opportunity to
experience science as a dramatic story of discovery to
inculcate a sense of wonder and curiosity. We’d like this
sense of wonder to be so indestructible that it lasts
throughout their lives propelling them to seek knowledge
not just to pass an exam but for the sheer joy of learning.
We believe that if children, especially those who
come from disadvantaged backgrounds,
experience informal science education, our
world could be in a much better shape. If these
children develop a passion for learning
something they care about, they might be less
likely to drop out of school — and staying in
school gives them a chance to better the world.
In the last three years, our work has impacted almost
twenty thousand children across Pakistan, reaching out
to students from Thar, Tando Jam and Karachi all the way
to Lahore, and Faisalabad. Sixty percent of these children
hailed from less-privileged families and were provided
these learning opportunities pro bono. We have
partnered with some of the leading institutions working
within the social and educational sector in Pakistan
including the British Council, Alif Ailaan,
Idara-e-Taleem-O-Agahi, Reading Room Project, Haque
Academy, Olo Mopolo, The Second Floor and Dawood
Foundation.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics) is much more than an acronym. STEM
really is a philosophy. It is a way of thinking about how
educators at all levels – including parents – should be
helping students integrate knowledge across disciplines,
encouraging them to think in a more connected and
holistic way.
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics
education plays a critical role in shaping culture and
economic development through innovation. To be
successful during STEM learning experiences, students
must move beyond low-level cognitive tasks and gain a
foundational understanding of the content. Our STEM
programs encourage students to develop solutions that
incorporate a variety of disciplines. We create engaging
learning environments where students are encouraged
to identify and solve problems.
Most importantly extracurricular STEM activities have
been associated with improved academic performance
and psychosocial development. Students who participate
in after-school STEM activities have been positively linked
to higher grades, test scores, school value, school
engagement, and educational aspirations
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