In order to survey public opinion and the needs of society, three focus groups are planned within the "Science Connecting People" project as a contribution to preparing research aimed at formulating public policy proposals as part of establishing the thematic network "STEM as a Driver of Society".
The same participants take part in all three and, building a dialogue through direct and online communication, they work towards shared conclusions that will feed into the drafting of guidelines for the development of public policy. The working concept was devised jointly by FabLab staff and Kristina Careva, PhD, of the Faculty of Architecture, who also moderates the sessions.
The 12 participants come from different professions and hold different positions, the aim being to achieve the broadest possible coverage of everyone involved in the topic, from members of the academic community, through members of associations, to people from management structures and the economic sector. The participants are: Krešimir Čanić, Petar Čuček, Tanja Djaković, Kristina Duvnjak, Marko Košiček, PhD, Tina Marković, Helena Matuša, Aleksandra Podrebarac, Dunja Potočnik, PhD, Marin Trošelj, Roberto Vdović, MSc, and Marijo Zrna. The first focus group discussed above all the importance and role of the “A” (art) in the acronym STE[A]M and the definition of the goals and target groups of science popularisation. After the discussion, the participants set out and explained their views further in an online questionnaire.
The general conclusions of the first focus group (including the discussion held in person and the online questionnaire completed afterwards) are:

• it is more accurate to use the acronym STEAM;
• science popularisation should provide learning opportunities that institutional education does not
  offer, but it should also build on what is learned at school;
• it is important to address all age groups, but primarily children;
• it is important to address both interested and uninterested groups, and parents in particular;
• science popularisation can improve work with vulnerable groups.