Session 4: 'Unsung Heroes' - impact and community building with neurodiverse learners

Abstract

The Absolute Chemistry Research Group (ACRG) is a cross-faculty group that leads impactful longitudinal interventions for pupils from deprived areas, who often experience barriers to engagement with higher education. Community is at the heart of ACRG activities: programmes work deeply with partner schools to raise aspirations, drawing upon the LJMU student body as role-models.

This session will share insights from a two-day Chemistry Week project (part funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry), designed to support chemistry aspirations and learner engagement at a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) specialist school in the Northwest of England. Staff from APSS and Science collaborated to offer activities to these learners. Through hands-on science workshops, the young people learnt about chemistry in the world around them and participated in art and creative writing activities facilitated by APSS students. These diverse learners explored their interests and influences and celebrated their own identities as ‘Unsung Heroes’ and unique individuals. The learners attended an exhibition of their work in the Student Life Building. LJMU Drama students delivered a devised play to examine the story of an unsung hero of chemistry, Rosalind Franklin, and her determination to believe in herself and the value of her work.

This ‘Unsung Heroes’ project involved the collaboration of colleagues and students from across the university and formed part of LJMU’s ‘Place and Partnership’ strategic activities. It enhanced LJMU students’ education and experience as co-creators. This session will reflect upon recommendations for cross-faculty and/or cross staff-student projects and how to harness the talent within our community for developing aspirations in the future generation. This demonstrates how meaningful partnerships can support more than stereotypical UCAS applicants and working collaboratively can be impactful for the LJMU community.

'Unsung Heroes' - impact and community building with neurodiverse learners PowerPoint. Only LJMU staff and students have access to this resource.