21st November 2019
Developing the Young Workforce North Highland (DYWNH) in partnership with Dounreay and North Highland College UHI recently delivered another 3-day Step Into Stem event for S2 pupils in both Caithness & Sutherland.
This event reached out to around 390 pupils from seven schools promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths through interactive and dynamic activities showcasing the diverse range of career opportunities that STEM subjects can lead to. It offered local employers and our armed forces the opportunity to engage with our young people, inspiring our future workforce and encouraging them continue studying STEM subjects.
The events were held in Wick and Golspie High Schools, and at North Highland College UHI in Thurso, with feedback received from all the attending schools being overwhelmingly positive.
The range of activities offered included Sensory Evaluation (food and beverage science), Lego Education WeDo 2.0, K’Nex Bridge Building and electronic workshops, Virtual Reality – experience being on top a chimney platform and then dismantling a tall chimney stack using virtual reality equipment, Chemistry Molecule Modelling, Fermentation, Cheek Cell DNA Extraction, Occulus Dreamdeck and Coding, Cyber Security, Smartmax Superstructure rebuilding bridges and towers, Architectural Modelling, Roof Construction, Virtual Welding, 3D printing & Design, Soil Sampling and PH. The Armed Forces offered activities in Frontline Science, Communications Tower, Sphero Coding, Pneumatic Circuits and Submarine 3D walkthrough.
Marcus Mennie, Project Coordinator for DYWNH, said:
“Following the success of the pilot project in March we were pleased to be able to offer an even bigger event and open it up to more schools. S2 is an important age for pupils to see the vast careers that they can do by studying STEM subjects – it’s an important step in their career development planning especially when it comes to the time for them to make their future subject choices for S3.
“I thank North Highland College UHI and Dounreay for working in partnership with us to coordinate the events, the schools for being so supportive and all the employers that committed three days of their valuable time to deliver excellent interactive activities. It was really encouraging to observe the pupils enthusiastically engaging in activities throughout the day and enjoying the experience – making learning both interesting and fun.”