Agency, role models and friction in STEM,
and designing a tool to support them

About this study

You are invited to take part in a research study about how people engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and how a new tool built on embedded and embodied technologies might support a stronger sense of agency in hands-on and human–computer interaction (HCI) tasks.

The study explores how people find their way into STEM, what inspires and sustains that interest, and what gets in the way when doing technical, hands-on work. What we learn will inform the design and testing of a device intended to support engagement and learning.

Who can take part

We are speaking with people who have some experience of STEM, whether through study, work, teaching, outreach, or a more recent personal interest. You have been invited because your experience is relevant to the study.

What taking part involves

If you agree to take part, you may be asked to do some or all of the following. The exact activities depend on your group and the session:

• Complete this consent form.
• Take part in a semi-structured interview (roughly 15–30 minutes) about your experiences with STEM, for example how you got into it, who or what inspired you, the content you engage with, and the barriers you encounter.
• With your permission, the interview may be audio-recorded and transcribed (e.g. using Microsoft Teams or Whisper) so it can be analysed accurately.
• You may be invited to a short hands-on activity, such as trying out a prototype device, sketching or describing how a mechanism works, or responding to a design prompt.
• You may be shown one or more short video clips and asked for your reactions.
• You may be asked to answer a short questionnaire.

In total, a session usually takes around 15–45 minutes depending on which activities are involved. You can take part in only the parts you are comfortable with.

Do I have to take part?

No. Taking part is entirely voluntary. You can decide not to take part, skip any question, stop the recording, or withdraw at any time, without giving a reason and without any disadvantage to you. If you withdraw, you can ask for your data to be removed up until it has been pseudo-anonymised and analysed.

Confidentiality and your data

Your information will be handled in confidence and in line with Imperial College London's data protection policies. Recordings and transcripts will be stored securely on password-protected, Imperial-approved systems. Identifying details will be pseudo-anonymised — stored against a participant code, with the key held separately and securely — and you will not be personally named in any report or output without your separate, explicit permission. Data will be held until the end of the academic year and then securely deleted.

Risks and benefits

There are no significant risks. Some people may feel mild discomfort reflecting on personal experiences, such as their background or route into STEM. You are free to skip anything or stop at any point. There is no direct benefit to you, but your input will help shape tools and learning experiences designed to make STEM more engaging and accessible.

What happens to the results

Findings form part of an MSc Design Master's Project assessed by academic staff, and may inform the design of a prototype device. Pseudo-anonymised results may be shared in academic reports, presentations, or posters.

Questions or complaints

For questions about the study, contact Aaron Vidal at a.vidal@imperial.ac.uk.

To make a complaint, contact the Design Engineering Research Ethics Chair, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London, at design.engineering@imperial.ac.uk / 020 7594 8888. The School's Ethics Officer is Weston Baxter (weston.baxter@imperial.ac.uk).