On Thursday 15th March 2018, 17 students from Years 7 and 8 attended the Girls in Stem conference at St James’ Park, Newcastle. The annual event held in only three locations within England (London, Manchester, and Newcastle) is a STEM event to help inspire the next generation to consider their future – and possible careers in STEM. Aiming to help 11-13 year olds girls make informed decisions about studying STEM subjects in school and at university in order to tackle misconceptions held regarding taking these opportunities and address the gender gap within some STEM industries. Accenture hope to change perceptions of STEM.
The students were given the chance to participate in a range of interactive workshops, giving them hands-on examples of working in STEM. The event also showcased a number of start-ups and inventions in the Innovation Zone, where the girls were able can get up close and personal with the latest technologies – which they could one day work on or with.
During the Electronics workshop our students had to design and construct a wind turbine to produce the greatest amount of electricity. Working in teams against a number of other schools a group of four Year 8 students from our school won second place each winning an Amazon Echo Dot!
The day ended with a question and answer session with a range of of inspirational speakers from across STEM sectors to share their passions and successes.
Mrs Freeman-Myers (Teacher of Science)
