Schools can win £1,000 by teaming pupils up with industry to tackle STEM Challenge
- Schools and colleges invited to compete in Year 9 challenge
- Winners will receive £1,000 worth of STEM prizes
- They will also pitch their idea to industry experts
Pupils have a chance to win £1,000 of prizes – by presenting their sustainability ideas to industry experts.
Schools and colleges from across Leicester and Leicestershire are invited to describe how they would make small changes to improve the sustainability of an everyday item or process.
Ideas include how a household kettle might be used in a more energy efficient way. Or what processes could be changed to make a school environment more eco-friendly?
Leicester and Leicestershire Careers Hub is partnering with Charnwood Campus Talent and Skills Institute to deliver the WeDiscover Life Sciences STEM Challenge to bring employers together with local educators to engage Year 9 students in a sustainability project.
Participating students will devise a project addressing an idea for making an everyday product, process, or service more sustainable. Judges are looking for small changes that will help reduce waste in:
- A standard household item
- Something in the school environment
- Medicine packaging
- Something in the local community.
Each participating school and college will be supported by a STEM Ambassador allocated by the Careers Hub. Each team will comprise students covering roles covering:
- Research & Innovation
- Production
- Product Development
- Finance
- Logistics
- Marketing
- Data Modelling & AI
Six entrants will win £1,000 worth of STEM prizes – as well as an invitation to bring 10 students to a celebration day at Charnwood Campus in September.
Finalists will also be invited to present their ideas to industry experts at the science, innovation and technology park in Loughborough.
All schools and colleges in the city and county are eligible to participate.
Their presentations can be on video or slide deck – with judges looking for evidence of clear thinking, collaboration, use of research, creativity, and a well organised summary.
Gerarde Manley, Careers Hub Lead, said: “The WeDiscover Life Sciences STEM Challenge is about young people working together with industry on shaping ideas for simple sustainability projects that will make small differences to the world around them.”
Gosia Krais, Commercial and Marketing Director, Charnwood Campus, said: “Leicestershire is a hub of STEM-related industries and inspiring the next generation is essential for the health and propensity of our region and the planet.”
Leicester and Leicestershire Careers Hub is working with STEM Learning UK, Charnwood Campus, and the Leicestershire Education Business Company on the challenge.
The Charnwood Campus Talent and Skills Institute is a collaboration between Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park, Almac Group, Solventum, Kindeva Drug Delivery, Charnwood Discovery, Weiss Technik and Medilink Midlands, find out more here.
Helen Derbyshire, R&D Staff Scientist, Kindeva Drug Delivery, added: “Involvement and engagement of young people in STEM is vital to continue the work in research, development, manufacturing, and sustainability to ensure we continue to help both people and the planet.”
Melanie Davidson, CEO, Medilink Midlands said: “The WeDiscover STEM Challenge is an exciting opportunity for young people to understand and explore career opportunities in life sciences, as well as providing their school with a chance to benefit.”
The WeDiscover School STEM Challenge will take place on 10 September at Charnwood Campus. Schools in the final will receive contributions towards transport and staff cover.
Projects must be submitted by 31 July, with winning schools notified at the end of August.
Email admin@llep.org.uk with any questions or queries about how to get involved.
Alternatively, register and download the project pack now here.
Photography courtesy of Simon Smith, JAKT Photography https://www.jaktcommercial.co.uk/