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STEM
STEM in the real world
Becci Knowles looks at the role Industry can play in creating the next generation of world class scientists,
alongside government plans to bridge the gap between classroom achievement and the workplace.
F
or many young people, scientists are perceived as rather dull characters, school ages, from 5 to 19.
locked away in dusty laboratories, carrying out experiments. If they knew Matt Bross, Chief Technology Officer at the BT Group, which provides
however, that at the cutting edge of technology STEM careers are both ambassadors for the scheme, commented: “One of the most important
exciting and well paid, they might see it rather differently. With a worrying things we can do to stimulate the next generation of technology innovators is
shortage of skilled professionals to ensure future scientific gains, it makes to help excite and inspire young people by harnessing their natural
sense to improve STEM education in every school before it’s too late. enthusiasm and affinity for technology and unleashing their natural flair as
In March last year, Lord Drayson, the Science Minister, spoke about the innovators.”
need for UK industry to engage with the next generation of young people George Quayle, Managing Director of Technical Fibre Products, a small
through the UK wide Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme to high-tech materials company based in Cumbria which provides three
avert a national STEM skills crises. Ambassadors, added: “Industry needs to get behind the STEMNET
Speaking at the start of National Science and Engineering Week, Lord programme. STEM students are the future wealth creators of this country.
Drayson said: “As we enter tough economic times and look to boost British They need to be enticed to join industry to ensure the UK prospers in a very
expertise in areas such as high tech manufacturing, the foundation for which competitive world. TFP has benefitted from involvement as the programme
is Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills, it is more crucial than has motivated our young STEM graduate employees and enhanced their
ever that employers join the drive to inspire young people about the leadership, project management and mentoring skills, as well as generating
possibilities of studying and pursuing a career in these areas. interest in future employment from a pool of local talent.”
“The Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme is a UK-wide
network created to help industry to do this. It connects our most inspiring Setting fun tasks
young scientists, engineers and technology experts with hundreds of thousands Teachers TV is currently running a series on this very successful scheme. In it,
of young people across the UK. I would like to see all Science enterprise STEM role model Graham Gannon uses a challenge based on designing and
businesses from SMEs to multinationals signing up to this scheme. We want selling MP3 players to demonstrate how important maths skills are in the real
every school in the country to have access to their own science hero by 2011.” world. Graham, an entrepreneur and businessman, struggled with maths at
The Science and Engineering Ambassadors programme was established in school because he didn’t see its relevance to every day life. He now visits
2002 by STEMNET (the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths schools and colleges to help students understand how important maths can be.
network) with funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Graham set Year 9 maths students at Reepham High School in Norfolk a
Skills (BIS). STEMNET’s research has shown that young people are much more task to design, cost and market a new MP3 player. Using a business
likely to study science at A level and pursue science, technology, engineering simulator, he predicted how each group’s MP3 player would perform in the
and maths at university if they have had exposure to positive role models. The marketplace. Through the game, he supports and encourages the students to
Ambassadors are available to help support students and teachers across all look at how crucial maths is to the decisions they make.
12
www.education-today.co.uk March 2010
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