A series of interactive workshops aimed at encouraging more school children from Furness to consider engineering as a career are to be held at BAE Systems’ Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge next month.
The three-day event, called Road to Engineering, will be held on November 4-6th and will involve 350 year six children from schools in the Furness area who will each be invited to take part in a series of events aimed at triggering an interest in what makes things work.
The scheme has been supported by the Engineering Function from BAE Systems along with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and the Barrow and District Association of Engineers (BDAE).
The idea came from the 8 year old son of an Engineering Manager within BAE Systems, and is being organised by a group of BAE Systems apprentices, including apprentice designer Jenny Bond. She said: “When talking to the schools we discovered that there are certain areas of the curriculum that are ‘difficult to cover’- for example light and sound or electricity. Our programme of activities will relate to these topics, as well as profiling the historical engineers associated with the shipyard over the last 150 years.”
Actors will play the part of historical engineering figures to lead tours and provide visitors with a specially written book for the day. The team hopes to show that engineering is an inclusive career and highlight the fact that Furness has a rich history of engineering.
BAE Systems’ Engineering Director Russ Watson said: “Engineering is the application of Science and Mathematics (STEM) to provide technological solutions to the day to day problems that we face. It is generating these solutions that excites Engineers. It is vital that we showcase this enthusiasm and excitement for problem solving so that we encourage and inspire the Engineers of the future.”
Activities planned include a demonstration of how sound travels, quality control and testing as well as building a solar powered car, electrical circuit design and talks from engineers working within the business. Around 20 engineers have signed up to help spread the work about what they do.
Anne Morris, Head of Programme Astute and Chair of the Institution of Engineering & Technology, Lancashire & Cumbria said: “Inspiring the future generation in STEM and especially engineering is at the forefront of our aims and being able to support this through local industry enhances the experience for students and helps achieve real interest levels.”
