Introduction: Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education: Presenting the Challenge and Introducing Project IRIS

Young people’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is a matter of international concern. Candidates qualified in physical sciences, mathematics and engineering in particular are expected to be in high demand in the coming years. Moreover, there is a distinct gender imbalance in many STEM disciplines. The research project Interests and Recruitment in Science, IRIS, emerged in response to this situation. The first part of this chapter presents the challenges connected with STEM participation, both in terms of global challenges requiring STEM expertise, in terms of equity and participation issues, and in terms of projected needs in the STEM workforce in different parts of Europe and the world. Commonalities as well as differences in participation patterns between countries and between STEM fields are displayed. In the final part of the chapter, the framework of IRIS is presented and the main data collection instruments are outlined. The objective of IRIS is to develop understanding of educational choice and recommendations concerning how a larger group of young people, women in particular, may come to consider STEM as a real and attractive option when making their educational and career choices. The IRIS project encompasses a range of qualitative and quantitative studies, which are briefly outlined. The chapter ends by presenting the structure and contents of the present book, which largely rests on results and perspectives produced within IRIS.