Abstract:

As part of the Italian National STEM Week (February 4–11, 2026), held to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a professional development seminar titled “Who Works with Science?” was organized for teachers and tutors involved in Primary Education internships.

The initiative invited participants to reflect on the stereotypical representations of scientists and their impact on primary school teaching. Through an interactive session, attendees described a typical 'person in science' using a single word, providing a collective starting point to uncover implicit biases and shared assumptions.

The seminar also explored past and ongoing Milano-Bicocca University research projects concerning children’s perceptions of scientists through the Draw-A-Scientist Test (DAST), developed by Chambers (1983). To conclude, facilitators shared results from a pre-meeting survey on STEM education interests, sparking a collaborative discussion. This exchange allowed the audience to share innovative projects and interdisciplinary strategies for fostering inclusive STEM experiences in early schooling.

By bridging research, teacher education, and classroom practice, this initiative highlighted the vital role of deconstructing stereotypes to promote a broader, more diverse image of science from the very beginning of the educational journey. Moreover, it provided an opportunity to launch new collaborative partnerships between schools and the university.

Keywords:

STEM, stereotype, DAST.