The project
Mind the STEM Gap - Together
The exhibit "Mind the STEM Gap - Together" was born from the collective work of 150 students on the "Mind the STEM Gap" Manifesto.
This educational and cultural project, conceived and curated by Fondazione Bracco in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano and Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, and supported by Regione Lombardia thanks to the Together grant, aims to bring students from some Lombard schools (the Nanni Valentini Artistic High School in Monza, the F. Viganò Technical Institute in Merate, the ITSOS Albe Steiner in Milan, the Einstein Institute in Vimercate) closer to the crucial theme of gender equality, promoting an action that can reach a wide audience.
Launched in 2023, the exhibition is on tour in various locations.
Content
The content is divided into three areas, each of which is assigned its own working group.
Area 1: Watch out for stereotypes!
Let's debunk the idioms and clichés we hear repeated from an early age, which shape our perceptions of our abilities and inform the choices we make at school, at university and at work.
Area 2: Role model
Let's find out about women who have made it in the world of STEM. We know six of them at least, those animating the Roblox game. But there are many other women from across the ages and from all sorts of fields who are worth knowing.
Area 3: How to change, right now
There are some things we can change right now. How we behave, the things we say, the actions we take, and the choices we make. We are not predestined to live in a sexist and unfair world.
Contributing partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
- Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- 120 students
- Liceo Artistico “Nanni Valentini” [High School] of Monza (Monza-Brianza)
- Istituto Tecnico [Technical College] “F. Viganò” of Merate (Lecco)
- ITSOS Albe Steiner of Milano
- DCxCG Research Group (Design della Comunicazione per le Culture di Genere) of the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- External partners
Recipients
- Young people 15 - 19 years
- 120 students
- 10 thousand people reached through the networks
Call for projects for “together” grant
Fondazione Bracco is one of the 16 private foundations that receives grants from the Region of Lombardy in connection with the “Together” programme for the funding of projects by young people (15-34 years) who live, study or work in Lombardy.
The “Together” projects have several aims: to promote the active participation of young people; to introduce services and opportunities to local areas and communities; to counter the phenomenon of the “NEET” (Not in Education, Employment or Training); to promote psycho-physical well-being; to encourage youth enterprise, creativity and involvement in environmental protection.
The project in 8 phases
Action
Determine project profile and select schools
Participating partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
Object/output
- Selection of schools to be included in the project
- Selection of the 120 participants
Recipients
Schools and students
Period
18 Jan - 28 Feb 2023
Action
Develop strategy, key messages and operational plan
Participating partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
- Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- Three selected schools
- External partners
Object/output
PR and communication work to spread word of the project
Recipients
10,000 secondary school students (15-19 years); teachers and head teachers; parents
Period
18 Jan - 30 Nov 2023
Action
Determine project profile and select schools
Participating partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
Object/output
- Selection of schools to be included in the project
- Selection of the 120 participants
Recipients
Schools and students
Period
18 Jan - 28 Feb 2023
Action
- Determining the goals and content of the workshops (preliminary phase)
- Building methods and tools
- Timetabling and preparation of activities, briefing and start of activities
- Holding of workshops (each school deals with one of the three thematic areas), collection of backstage audiovisual documentation
Participating partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
- Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- DCxCG Research Group (Design della Comunicazione per le Culture di Genere) of the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- 120 students
- Three selected schools
Aim
To transfer the skills needed for the setting up of a physical and digital exhibition involving 120 students from six classes
Outputs
Analogue and digital works designed by the participants, to be used for a subsequent exhibition
Recipients
Schools and students
Period
28 Feb- 30 June 2023
Action
- March-May >> Systematize the manifestos prepared in the workshops | organize materials and co-design formats and supports that are suitable for a touring exhibition | select/inspect the exhibition spaces and display area | create a kit of materials with installation instructions
- July >> Inauguration of a preview exhibition at Centro Diagnostico Italiano (CDI)
- September >> First installation of the touring exhibition (school to be chosen)
Participating partners
- Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- DCxCG Research Group (Design della Comunicazione per le Culture di Genere) of the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- 120 students and teachers
- The schools
Object
- To promote creativity and opportunities for young people in the cultural and artistic fields
- To attract 2-5 thousand students and parents to the exhibition
Output
- Holding of exhibitions
- Exhibition promotion
- Exhibition kit
Recipients
- 120 secondary school students (first-level target)
- 2-5 thousand users of the exhibition (second-level target)
Period
Apr - Nov 2023
Action
- Mar-Apr >> Launch of the brief and start of activities
- Apr-May >> Co-design of the digital exhibition format
- May-Jun >> Digital implementation of materials (kinetic posters, augmented reality)
- Backstage | User experience design
- Jun-Sep >> Production of the digital exhibition
- July >> Preview launch
- September >> Launch of the complete digital exhibition
DCxCG Research Group (Design della Comunicazione per le Culture di Genere) of the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
Object
To promote creativity and opportunities for young people in the cultural and artistic fields
To reach 10 thousand users
Outputs
Web space for virtual visits to the exhibition, with digital content to bring the experience to life
Recipients
- Students aged 15-19 from high schools in Lombardy
- Users of the exhibition (up to 10,000 secondary school students plus adults)
Period
Apr - Nov 2023
Visit virtual exhibition
https://www.einsteinvimercate.edu.it/blog/mind-the-stem-gap-together/
Action
Dissemination of students’ work across social media channels
Participating partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
- Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
- 120 students
- Teachers
- DCxCG Research Group (Design della Comunicazione per le Culture di Genere) of the Department of Design of Politecnico di Milano
Results/outputs
Engagement and conversions
Recipients
10,000 visitors during the project and in the months following the end of activities
Period
June - Nov 2023
Action
Monthly meetings
Participating partners
- Fondazione Bracco
- Fondazione Politecnico di Milano
- External professionals
Results/outputs
Monitoring plan + Monthly report + Collection of materials for the exhibition
Recipients
Schools and students
Period
28 Feb - 30 Nov 2023
