Fun with rocket science helps launch interest in high-tech career options

Children from Eastfield Primary School, Hull, with Katie Norman of Lab Rascals and children from Wheeler Primary School in Hull experiencing rocket science.

It IS rocket science! Schoolchildren made their own missiles and blasted them into the air at the KC Stadium at an event designed to help launch careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

More than 30 schools from across the Humber region spent a day at STEM in Action, with activities spread over two days to enable organisers Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) to fit in as many youngsters as possible.

Tuition was provided by ambassadors from industry, with big businesses including Arco, BAE Systems and Kingston Communications sharing their expertise alongside Lab Rascals, the science workshops and party micro-business founded by University of Hull chemistry graduate Katie Norman.

Katie considers the lack of STEM opportunities when she was growing up as the reason why she left school without a single GCSE and had to find her way back into education via a job with the NHS and a university access course at Beverley College.

She said: “I personally never considered a career as a scientist when I left school as I believed science was too hard plus I wasn't engaged due to the lack of practical experimentation available during my school life. 

During college I decided to use the qualification I gained to do a degree in chemistry instead of the original choice of nursing. At university I discovered if I’d had access to regular hands on STEM activities I may have decided to go into science much earlier, so with this in mind I began to set up Lab Rascals.

“It's important to inspire children in STEM areas because the demand for scientists and engineers is advancing in Hull with new developments such as Siemens. Hull has always had a large chemical and engineering industry and engaging children will increase their skill set and equip them for careers within our local industries.”

Brendon Smurthwaite, Community Co-ordinator at KC, said: “We’ve supported STEM in Action for several years now and it’s a terrific event which allows local companies like ourselves to engage with over 200 primary school children from across the area.

“The workshop we ran allowed the children to simulate how the internet works and the feedback we received was that they found it both fun and educational. Our volunteers from within the business really enjoyed delivering the workshop as well and everyone is looking forward to next year’s event already.”

Toni Boland, a year 5 teacher whose pupils from Eastfield Primary in Hull were among the visitors to Katie’s stand, said: “This is our first time at this event. We were given the chance to bring 20 pupils and it sounded good because it’s a chance to link up with industry and find out how things work in real life.

“We are having a big push on science this year and the children love having the chance to do some hands-on work. They keep asking when we will be able to do it again.”

Jes Coop, a former teacher who is now an instructor and ambassador at HETA, led the rocket building project.

He said: “The children have a great time. We pick a lot of different projects and this one seems to work very well.

“The experience they get is absolutely priceless. As a science teacher it was all very well standing in a classroom and talking about things but it makes all the difference to see it in practice and this event is ideal for that.”

David Hanover, a teacher at Wheeler Primary School in Hull, added: “The event enables the children to experience a wide variety of science activities in just one day and the enthusiasm that it generates is invaluable.

“We are always looking to bring science into the school and to take children to see it, and this event is an excellent supplement to the diet of science in our school.”

Niki Bardsley, the Education Links Co-ordinator at HETA, said: “Science is not geeky and it’s not boring – it’s fun! All of these activities have maths in them and the children don’t realise they are learning while they are enjoying themselves.

“The support from the employers is fantastic. They give their time and resources free of charge because they realise the importance of engaging with children who will all go back to school with new ideas that they can show to a larger group.”

One of the rockets is launched into the air.