Students sample science at STEMfest event | Latest news

 

Beatboxing, practical ornithology and learning about the digestive system were just some of the activities students experienced at an interactive science event held in Bognor Regis.

The Big Bang @ Butlin’s was a day of noisy and colourful interactive displays, shows and hands-on activities provided by local businesses such as Arun Control Systems, GSK, Inpress Plastics, Rayner and Rolls Royce and other organisations aimed at bringing science and engineering to life.

Arun District Council is among the partners of the first of a series of events aimed at inspiring the next generation of young people to study and forge careers in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) businesses, giving them the tools required to drive the economy of the future. The STEMfest event took place on Thursday, 3 March.

Students who attended saw a demonstration of how the digestive system works thanks to Punk Science from the Science Museum, they sampled crickets and mealworms, undertook practical ornithology with Arundel Wetland Trust and created electronic circuits with GSK.

One student from Felpham Community College said: “Inspiring – I wasn’t interested in STEM before today. I am now!”

Councillor Mrs Gillian Brown, Leader of Arun District Council, said: “I am delighted the Big Bang @ Butlin’s event in Bognor Regis went so well.

“To have nearly 725 students from schools from across West Sussex attend demonstrates the interest among young people in these subjects and I hope many of them are now inspired to pursue careers in these areas.”

Alex Rowley, Automation Engineer at GSK, said: “Inspiring others to follow a STEM career is extremely rewarding both personally and professionally. I think the Big Bang @ Butlin’s has had a huge impact on those attending; [the students] were captivated, they asked great questions and the enthusiasm and interest from those students taking part was really energising.”