Connecting Science Education to Communities

Imagine schools that teach science that links children’s learning to the world outside. Schools that join hands with local businesses, NGOs or city services to make science education more meaningful for their students by showing how science is a real part of their lives. In these open schools, students learn to ask questions about socio-scientific issues that exist around them, create meaning through inquiry, and collectively find ways to engage in their societies as active citizens.

Schools like these have great potential to prepare students for the complexity of the contemporary world, for uncertain futures, for jobs that don’t yet exist, and for their role as democratic citizens who want to contribute to a sustainable future.

In the COSMOS project, we collaborate with primary and secondary schools to make this a reality. Together, we’re studying what is needed to become a school that is more open to its community and how the science curriculum can be a driving force to make this shift a reality.

Learn more about who we are, our project and approach, and reach out if you want to join us!

• COSMOS is a Horizon 2020 project, involving 12 dedicated partners from 7 countries, including higher education institutes, ministries, NGOs and science centres.