SmartSTEMs and EDF Energy celebrate successful year

A charitable organisation that aims to encourage diversity in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) is wrapping up its 2018 activity with a new partnership.

More than 100 pupils have been attending a SmartSTEMs event at Glasgow Kelvin College Springburn Campus; the first time the two bodies have worked together.

The event at the college’s Springburn campus is the 10th this year to be supported by headline sponsor EDF Energy and brings the total number of children who have attended SmartSTEMs events in 2018 to 5000.

The pupils aged between 10 and 12, from schools across the area, heard from the Glasgow Science Centre on Tour team and Kerry-Anne McLaughlin from JP Morgan about their careers in STEM. They also took part in a series of hands-on workshops including forensic science and digital fashion design.

At the moment just one in four people working in STEM careers in Scotland is a woman and in engineering there is an estimated shortfall of people with the right skills of up to 59,000 a year.

Events run by SmartSTEMs target children aged 10 to 14 and aim to encourage more people from diverse backgrounds to study STEM subjects at school.

EDF Energy’s Scottish Business Director, Paul Winkle, said: “EDF Energy hopes that by capturing their imaginations at events like this one more children will be inspired to study STEM subjects at school.

“Jobs in science, technology, engineering and maths are expected to grow at double the rate of other occupations but its projected that there won’t be enough graduates and apprentices to fill the roles. We are delighted to be working with SmartSTEMs and the Glasgow Kelvin College to try and change that.”

Carlyn McNab, Director of Curriculum at Glasgow Kelvin College said: "As an inclusive college, Glasgow Kelvin is thrilled to be helping to host SmartSTEMS which will encourage local young people, especially young women, to engage with STEM learning and help to create greater diversity in the STEM workforce.  The technical and scientific skills we deliver in this area are becoming ever more important for future careers and we are looking forward to a vibrant and exciting event for our partner schools."

Stuart Macdonald, of SmartSTEMs said: “We are delighted to pull together many wonderful industry partners and scores of generous volunteers to deliver this great event for these young boys and girls. Proud to be playing our part in making Scotland a great place to discover and pursue STEM careers.”

Those at the SmartSTEMs session were also able to experience a virtual reality film that immersed them in the worlds of three successful women working in STEM-related industries. EDF Energy’s Virtual Reality film can be viewed at edfenergy.com/prettycurious.