The Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland, granted LUMA Centre Finland a second consecutive National Task for 2021–2024. During the four years, approximately 400,000 individuals participated in the activities, an increase of nearly 60% compared to the previous term (2017–2020). The final report shows that the initiative successfully supported teachers’ continuous professional learning, deepened inter-university collaboration, and expanded science activities for children, youth, and families across the country.
The implementation of the National Task was planned collaboratively. The key objectives were to strengthen continuous learning for teachers, develop cooperation between universities and network forums, and expand extracurricular LUMA activities for children, youth, and families. Progress toward these goals was assessed annually through self-evaluations, peer discussions, and monitoring by the steering committee. The goals were revisited and the activities redirected as needed during the period of four years.
To Every Corner and Cape
The motto of the National Task period was “Joka kolkkaan ja niemeen” which translates into “To every corner and cape“. This means the goal of LUMA activities was to make science education accessible to every child, young person, and teacher in Finland, regardless of geographic location or social and economic background. This goal was pursued primarily through two approaches: by offering remote participation opportunities, and by organizing outreach tours to municipalities, schools, and early childhood education units located farther from universities, supported by additional targeted funding.
During the period, thousands of children and young people were able to participate in LUMA activities even in regions that had previously been less involved due to long distances from university hubs
New community-based and research-driven virtual models, such as online courses and clubs, science videos, and TikTok content, were particularly popular during this period. These helped significantly in realizing our core aim: “to every corner and cape.” Together we are more! — Professor Maija Aksela, Director during the National Task
Accessible Science Education for Children and Youth
Several important new initiatives were piloted in leisure-time science education during the National Task period. Children’s and youth extracurricular activities were enriched in collaboration with libraries, municipal youth services, the Scouts, and the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare. Examples include workshops held in libraries in Joensuu and Lahti, where children were guided through hands-on experiments. In Lahti, the LUMA Centre Päijänne Tavastia also integrated age-appropriate literature, such as themes from the Harry Potter series, into the science activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lahti libraries also distributed small science kits to homes.
Remote science clubs significantly expanded the geographical and socioeconomic reach of activities across Finland. Aalto University Junior organized multilingual workshops in collaboration with interpreter students from Diaconia University of Applied Sciences and also conducted remote workshops for Ukraine in spring 2023. Additionally, the StarT program developed and piloted new types of science clubs in spring 2024 through international collaboration. These clubs served as learning environments not only for primary school students but also for families, teachers, and teacher trainees.
Our activities in numbers during 2021–2024
100,000 people participated in our activities each year. In comparison, we reached around 61,300 people per year during the 2017–2020 period of the national task.
We provided in-service teacher training to an average of 4,600 education and training professionals per year.
We produced an average of 130 research publications per year (50 per year in 2017–2020).
LUMA labs were visited by an average of 34,000 students and teachers per year (20,000 per year in 2017–2020).
We organised educational events and workshops with an average of 34,000 students or teachers annually.
Our after-school activities, such as summer camps and science clubs, reach 3,400 children and young people each year.
Key Objectives of the Period
Supporting teachers’ continuous professional development was one of the primary goals of the National Task, and several new operating models were developed to achieve it. Around 140 teachers and instructors participated in the LUMA Developers program, collaboratively creating new teaching models and materials. Activities such as LUMA Weeks, in-service training sessions, and online courses broadened teachers’ expertise, while study visits and outreach by LUMA Centres to schools strengthened science education in practice.
Inter-university collaboration was actively developed. LUMA Centre Finland contributed to the formulation and monitoring of the Finnish National STEM strategy and Action Plan. Internal and external communication about LUMA activities within universities improved, and partnerships with international science education networks, such as Science on Stage, IDoS, and EU STEM Coalition, were strengthened.
Communication evolved significantly over the four years, both strategically and practically. The reach and impact of social media increased, particularly on Facebook and Instagram, while the number of LUMA newsletter subscribers and its open rate grew substantially. Communication content was also diversified through blog series and online publications. The 2024 Science on Stage festival brought major international visibility to Finnish LUMA activities, bringing together 750 education professionals from over 35 countries.
The National Task period significantly advanced LUMA activities: continuing education for teachers was implemented with high quality, university collaboration was strengthened and consolidated, and informal science education became more diverse.