PROFESSIONAL ARCHAEOLOGY | A GUIDE FOR CLIENTS 2024 25 Sustainable futures: archaeology and social value | CASE STUDIES gathering data and building a narrative, telling the story of who that person was and how they lived, using the material remains available. When moving on to the bridge-building stage of the Apprenticeship Academy, the environment the pupils have to interact with as engineers has become more complex, but they now have the skills and curiosity to navigate and mitigate those challenges. MAKING THE PAST RELEVANT Personalising the past and making it relevant in contemporary society and to communities in general is a key component of archaeology and social value. Through Academy9 we have had the opportunity to help young people form a long-lasting relationship with and an active sense of stewardship towards their local historic environment; an important national 3 Our Past, Our Future | Historic Environment Scotland | History Inspiring young students to think innovatively and broadly about how they can use their skills and interests for future works of social value KEY OUTCOMES/MESSAGES • social value is at the core of Academy9, with its commitment to enhancing community benefits by reaching out to young people along the A9 Dualling corridor • Academy9 provides opportunities for pupils to learn about STEM-related careers with real-life support and guidance from industry professionals • archaeology can be described as a STEAM (A for Arts) subject, as it represents a broader and more inclusive range of interests that link into science, technology, engineering and mathematics • storytelling, personalising the past and making it relevant in contemporary society and to communities in general is a key component of archaeology and social value • archaeologists can use their unique perspective on time to stimulate further thought on climate change, pollution and sustainability • the social benefit of archaeology and the sense of wellbeing it brings is tangible and immediate aim within Our Past, Our Future: The Strategy for Scotland’s Historic Environment.3 We also have the power to highlight the diversity of the modern world of work and to inspire young people to think innovatively and broadly about how they can use their skills and interests. As Transport Scotland states “We recognise the importance of social value within major infrastructure projects and actively integrate community benefits through our Archaeology Services Framework. In the Framework, contractors are required to provide specific proposals describing how social value will be secured through the delivery of community benefits such as: • Open days and site visits by schools • Work placements • Physical/multimedia digital exhibitions • Active participation of local communities in investigations and post-excavation services These activities all contribute to fulfilling our social value commitments by creating engagement programmes for local communities and schools.” With credit to Transport Scotland, the Academy9 team and all pupils engaging in Academy9 along the A9 road corridor.
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