All sy(STEM)s go as science classes team up with industry experts
Posted on 18 Mar 2024
Auchenharvie Academy has welcomed an inspirational team of local science experts to classes this week to celebrate British Science Week 2024.
The collaborative sessions with a STEM careers focus, were just one of many STEM activities delivered by Early Years practitioners, primary and secondary teachers across North Ayrshire.
The recent sessions had a key aim in mind; to provide North Ayrshire pupils with fun and exciting learning opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Auchenharvie Academy’s STEM careers event, organised as part of British Science Week, included four separate visits.
- Lecturers from the University of the West of Scotland (Nursing) provided hands on activities including a patient VR experience, CPR training and an 'aging suit' with restrictive, weighted elements and visual impairment goggles to give pupils a simulated understanding of how ability can be affected when experiencing degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis.
- Nuclear Restoration Services met with pupils to tell them all about the STEM career routes involved in the decommissioning of nuclear power.
- Spirit Aerosystems provided pupils with an insight into the many STEM routes and career paths in the aerospace manufacturing industry.
- And Storm Aviation visited the Tech department to provide S1s with a practical apprentice mechanic exercise, and shared more information about the benefits and Modern Apprentice access routes into STEM careers in the aerospace mechanical engineering sector.
The STEM careers sessions proved a big hit with pupils there.
Pupils also had the opportunity to ask questions and understand more about what their visitors - already working in the STEM industries - liked most about their careers, and why they were glad to have pursued their chosen STEM career paths.
Councillor Shaun Macaulay, Cabinet Member for Education and Young People, said: “This was an excellent opportunity for Auchenharvie pupils to participate in science activities directly linked to local industry, hearing first-hand about the education pathways of professionals working in these industries.
“Like the introduction of our STEM outdoor learning trail at Eglinton Country Park – developed in partnership with our STEM team and Countryside Rangers, and the recently reported collaboration of GSK and ‘The Killie Community’ football coaches for P5 classes throughout Ayrshire, this week’s STEM careers event at Auchenharvie is another great example of how schools can team up with local community partners and industry experts to enrich their learning experiences.
“This collaborative approach is vital for nurturing an interest in STEM careers and the sessions are of upmost importance if we are to continue to develop a highly skilled future workforce for the region.”
It wasn’t just Auchenharvie that was in on the STEM action this British Science Week as primary school sessions also took place at St John’s, Winton and Glencairn primary schools.
The theme for British Science Week (8-17 March) was ‘Time’. Primary pupils worked with Tim Dreyer, STEM Education Support Officer, on a range of time investigations.
At St John’s Primary, younger learners explored if different types of chocolate melted at the same rate, while older learners were given an engineering challenge to design and build a pendulum that could most accurately time 60 seconds.
Winton PS and Glencairn PS took part in a DNA extraction and discussed how inheritance of DNA over millions of years lead to the evolution of modern plants and animals.
Councillor Macaulay added: “STEM industries are a major source of employment in North Ayrshire.
“Research shows that children have self-selected in or out of STEM subjects by the age of 7 so the Council, alongside its partners will continue to engage with pupils across primary and secondary schools to inspire them to set their own STEM goals.
“The activities undertaken could very well inspire these young people to pursue STEM in North Ayrshire, so the recent sessions have been great learning experiences for all involved.”
Follow the North Ayrshire STEM team on social media for more news happening in schools and communities near you: Facebook: North Ayrshire STEM
and X (formerly Twitter): NAC_STEM