200 Hampshire students attend STEM event in Southampton

Held on Wednesday, June 25, the Inspiring STEM event at the National Oceanography Centre was organised in partnership with BioPure Technology Ltd and Southampton City Council.

The event aimed to inspire young people about STEM career paths and to raise aspirations.

The event offered a range of activities for students to take part in. (Image: EBP South) David Swieton, employment and skills plan coordinator at Southampton City Council, said: "The students were given repeated quality opportunities to engage with representatives from many STEM-based industries and disciplines.

"This provided significant careers knowledge in an understandable way and was a great way to give students experience of the workplace."

Twenty-one businesses participated, offering 25-minute STEM activities like 'Build A Prosthetic', 'Build a Cruise Ship', and 'Water Supply Workshop'.

BioPure Technology Ltd said: "The event is a great opportunity for younger generations to see the application of science first hand, experience it, and understand how broad the engineering field is around them."

Seventy-eight per cent of students who attended the event said it had inspired them to work in STEM, and all attendees said they discovered job types or careers previously unknown to them.

Neil Waite, curriculum leader, design and technology at Eggar’s School, said: "The interactive activities were incredibly engaging and sparked real interest among the pupils."