Very lively interest in STEM topics and careers at the HMS Sultan Summer Show 'Year of Engineering 2018' event
HMS Sultan in Gosport - the Royal Navy’s School of Marine and Engineering Training, is supporting the national celebration of the importance of engineering, through a range of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) related activities. These activities are part of the ‘The Year of Engineering 2018’, a year-long cross-Government campaign aimed at raising the profile of engineering amongst 7 to 16 year-olds and widening the pool of young people that consider engineering as a career. A key element in this programme was the STEM Tent at the HMS Sultan Summer Show 2018, held on Saturday and Sunday 16 & 17 June and including the Nuclear Institute (NI).
The HMS Sultan Summer Show regularly attracts around 25,000 visitors from across the South for a day packed full of high quality Arena Entertainment, interactive games and displays, craft and steam fairs and an enormous funfair. Community is at the heart of the Show and it is a not-for-profit event, ploughing back much needed funds into Service and Local Charities and organisations.
The engineering sector was also represented by The Institution of Mechanical Engineers and The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology.
Further to information that was very helpfully provided by the Chairman of the NI Education & Training Committee, the Nuclear Institute Stand was organised by the Central England Branch working in association with the Chairman of the NI Membership Committee and with logistical support provided by NI Headquarters. We also participated in a special Children’s Party held on the Friday evening, for children with special needs and learning difficulties.
Our team (see Figure 1) was Mehdi Askarieh, Chairman of the NI Central England Branch; Clive Smith, Chairman of the NI Membership Committee; and Dick Francis, Education & Training Officer for the NI Central England Branch. Our objective was to inspire curiosity and interest in STEM subjects and to emphasise the importance of STEM subjects, including nuclear, in the world of work. We used a range of NI Membership and Nuclear educational materials, supported by a banner promoting Women in Nuclear (WiN) and information about our Young Generation Network (YGN).
For interactive experiences, we demonstrated a plasma ball, a magnetic levitating globe, a remote controlled walking robot, a hydraulic manipulator arm and an infrared imaging display. STEM interest in the NI stand was very helpfully enhanced by HMS Sultan providing an illuminated moving picture of a Nuclear Submarine Propulsion Plant. This really assisted us in engaging with older children and adults. All these supporting devices proved to be very helpful in conversations with adults and children, about the excitement and opportunities offered by STEM subjects and careers. We were very impressed by the high level of interest shown throughout the show.
As a charity, the NI prime charitable objective is outreach and increasing public awareness of science and engineering issues. We allconcluded that this event really met that objective. The large number of children and parents we engaged with and the insightful questions they asked were really pleasing and we hope will inspire them to look closely at STEM careers. Although this was an outreach event, we also received enquiries about the Nuclear Institute and how it supports individuals in their nuclear-related careers. The Central England Branch intends to follow-up on the various approaches received, in collaboration with NI Headquarters.
HMS Sultan have concluded that the STEM tent at this year’s Show was a success. Their initial feedback from both attendees on the day and follow up discussions with wider organisations have indicated it was an element of the show which raised significant interest and support, which was enjoyed by both children and their parents alike.
The support we all provided in delivering this success is valued by HMS Sultan, who have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting STEM objectives within future events. Their aspiration is to build on this year’s success to create an even bigger event next year, with a larger dedicated enclosure which affords a greater opportunity to those supporting to reinforce the engineering message. We have been invited to participate in this growing annual regional STEM event. We have responded that we found it to be a most useful event in providing us with an opportunity to interact with so many members of the public - and that we in Central England Branch look forward to working with HMS Sultan in this and similar events in the future.
Figure 1 - The NI team ready for STEM outreach at the HMS Sultan Summer Show 2018! Mehdi Askarieh, Chairman of the NI Central England Branch; Clive Smith, Chairman of the NI Membership Committee; and Dick Francis, Education & Training Officer for the NI Central England Branch.
Figure 2 - Potential future engineers and their families enjoying the interactive exhibits on the NI Stand at the HMS Sultan Summer Show 2018.