Science Starz, which is led by women and aims to show children that science is for girls as well as boys, has just completed STEM related workshops in four primary schools across Belfast – Mercy PS, Lough View Integrated, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and Fane Street PS .
The series of visits ended with a closing event at Belfast Harbour Office in which each school was invited to do more experiments and meet some of the businesses who will need employees with STEM-related skills in the future.
Employers at the event included Farrans Construction, Ulster Wildlife and technical engineering recruitment agency Vickerstock, the key sponsor for Queen’s University Racing Team. The team is made up of over 40 students from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, some of whom brought along the formula-style racing car they have designed and built as part of a competition run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Vickerstock held a colouring competition and the winners were awarded STEM-related games and a chance to have their photograph taken in the Formula car.
Jenni Barkley, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Manager, said: “Belfast Harbour believes it is essential that we play our part in creating the workforce of the future and ensuring there is enough talent directed towards the STEM subjects that are already in such high demand in the fast-growing growing engineering, technology and digital sectors.
Elita Frid, Director at Science Starz, said: “Science Starz brings STEM to life with exciting, fun experiments that really engaged the children at the schools we visited. If we can show both girls and boys that studying STEM opens up a wide and varied range of career options, it gives us a much better chance of creating the talent pool the Northern Ireland economy will need in years to come.”
Elita Frid, Director at Science Starz and Jenni Barkley, Communications and Corporate Responsibility Manager are pictured with school children from Mercy PS and Lough View Integrated.
Advertisement
