UCL Science & Technology Studies launches new volunteering programme

The Evidence Based Medicine (EBM+) group is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to take part in their school programme. EBM+ is part of the three-year, AHRC funded research project, "Evaluating Evidence in Medicine" (EEiM).

EEiM is a consortium of researchers seeking to improve the ways evidence is used to make medical decisions, particularly focusing on Evidence-based Medicine. This group is based at a number of institutions including UCL Science & Technology Studies.

The EEiM initiative is a 3-year collaborative project aimed at improving the ways that evidence is used to answer medical questions. One of the research aims is to engage school-age students at KS4 & KS5. EEiM is particularly interested in working with these groups to explore their needs and narratives as they begin to take charge of making decisions about their own health. To do this, EEiM are planning a volunteering programme with UCL students that aims to bring this piece of cutting-edge research into the classroom.

At the end of the project, AS & A level students will be able to make independent, informed decisions about what works, by generating good quality evidence, and using it thoughtfully.

The programme is open to UCL students who will go into schools and engage with A-level students about medical evidence and their health. Groups of 2-3 UCL students will engage with groups of 8-10 AS/A2-level school students in workshop sessions, bringing pioneering research into a classroom setting. These engagement sessions will commence in January and continue throughout the school spring term. EMB+ volunteers are expected to commit to one session each week in their assigned school with each session lasting around 1-2 hours.

No prior teaching experience or background in handling medical evidence is required, but all volunteers must have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check prior to entering schools in January. This process can take up to 12 weeks and will be done via the UCLU Volunteering Services Unit.

If you are interested in taking part in the volunteering programme, please fill out the application form. For more information, please get in touch with the EBM+ Impact and Engagement Coordinator, Charlie Norell.

Links

• EMB+ Volunteering Programme
• UCL Science & Technology Studies
• UCLU Volunteering Services Unit