The concept of science capital, a way to look at all the science-related knowledge, social contacts, attitudes and experiences a person has, offers us a lens for understanding the differences in our audiences’ engagement with science... Why some people feel at home with –or conversely, intimidated by- the experiences we offer.

Reflecting on our work as practitioners, can we embed the concept within our practice to identify successes and opportunities in how we connect to our audiences, and ultimately, develop approaches to reach those who aren’t yet using us?

This reverse session will explore the practical ways in which informal science learning providers are using the concept of science capital to understand how to reach under-served audiences, and will encourage discussion on whether using science capital in our approach can help us build relationships with all our audiences, to help science flourish in more people’s lives and careers, improving their life chances.