-
Joining the UK’s biggest celebration of science
-
This year the ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) runs from 8-17 March 2019.
The national week, organised by the British Science Association, provides a platform to inspire and support teachers, STEM professionals, science communicators and the general public and encourage participation in STEM events.
Said Corporate Communications manager John Klee: “We are delighted to sponsor British Science Week for the fourth year running. It is a great opportunity for us to share our passion for science and technology by running a series of events at our sites across the country - including Atherstone, Aycliffe, Bracknell, Clitheroe, Loughborough and Skelmersdale.
“These events are run by our network of STEM ambassadors who connect with local schools and colleges to encourage greater interest in STEM subjects among young people.”
During British Science Week, 3M will be hosting a careers evening for around 150 female Year 7/8 pupils and their parents at the Bracknell head office.
This will give the girls the chance to visit the Customer Innovation Centre; see a wide range of 3M products in action; enjoy a tour of 3M’s laboratories where state-of-the art equipment is used to create some of these innovations; and take part in career speed networking sessions with inspirational female role models.
One of these is Katie Stoate, a mechanical engineering placement student working for 3M’s Corporate Research Systems Laboratory, who will be speaking at the event.
Katie is studying for a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at Bath University and at 3M works in research and development alongside mechanical, electrical and software engineers, designing prototypes and running tests in the lab.
Meanwhile, at the Loughborough site, 3M has launched a Visiting Wizards programme for Key Stage 2 pupils. This will involve 3M STEM ambassadors running a series of interactive workshops for local schools, demonstrating how scientists and engineers collect and analyse data and use creative thinking to solve problems.
3M’s Automotive Refinish Centre in Atherstone, Warwickshire, will be hosting an event for students from Queen Elizabeth Academy. This will give the Year 7 students hands-on experience of applying filler to a car panel and choosing the right abrasive to sand it down; as well as taking part in a paper aeroplane flying challenge.
Year 12 STEM students from Framwellgate School, Durham, have been invited on a tour of 3M’s manufacturing site in Aycliffe, where they will learn about the processes, technology and challenges involved in making respiratory protective equipment, and Ribblesdale High School students will be visiting 3M’s Clitheroe site, where specialist valves and components for asthma inhalers are made.
British Science Week is sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as well as the Royal Society of Chemistry and a handful of companies including 3M. Each year it inspires millions of people to join in this nationwide grassroots campaign to position science as a fundamental part of culture and society.
-
