Characterising patterns of engagement of different participants in a public STEM-based analysis project

An analysis project undertaken in the context of a historic visitor site is described. The project offered different types of opportunity for scientific working, and involved four distinct groups of participants. Two distinguishing features of the different groups of participants were their primary motivation for engagement with the activity, and their level of previous engagement with formal science education. Participants in different parts of the project were assessed as to their level of science capital (Archer et al., 2015). Drawing upon engagement theory, the observable behaviours were used as an indicator of engagement and then categorised according to Pearson's (2010) taxonomy. The analysis showed that learner engagement was exhibited at different levels by the different categories of participants, with higher levels of engagement exhibited by participants with a higher level of science capital. Although there was general correlation between the level of science capital and the proportion of higher engagement learning behaviours, one group of participants deviated from this trend. The findings indicate that the level of science capital is a key determinant of engagement and associated learning behaviours, but did not completely account for participants’ engagement in the science outreach activity

A study of the structure of forged pieces of 75X3MΦ steel using the ultrasonic method for quality control

The microstructures of 75X3MΦ steel specimens that were sampled from forged pieces of support shafts of rolling mills was investigated. A correlation between the presence of a carbide network and increased attenuation of ultrasonic waves was established. Ultrasonic testing was performed using a Krautkremer ultrasonic flaw detector. The microstructure was studied using conventional metallographic-analysis methods. The nanoindentation method was used to measure the Young modulus of the phase components of 75X3MΦ steel specimens, carbides, and the matrix. A comparative evaluation of their acoustic characteristics was performed. © 2012 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd