STEM Ambassadors
With a high percentage of GE's business in the UK based on manufacturing, engineering and science, helping young people choose to learn more about these subjects is paramount. Games like the My Future My Choice top trumps game start to give an insight into the variety of roles where science and maths subjects play a big part.
GE encourages employees to become part of the STEM Ambassadors Programme which enables teachers to make links from the curriculum to how STEM is practiced in the world of work. STEM Ambassadors are people from STEM backgrounds who volunteer as inspiring role models for young people. Find out more - www.stemnet.org.uk/content/ambassadors
As part of GE's sponsorship of the Olympic and Paralympic games GE is worked with STEMNET on a challenge for students aged 11-14 to design a wetsuit for Jimmy Goddard a Paratriathlete who is hoping to take part in the Paralympics. The winning school was Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School from Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
The team competed against seven other finalist teams
from around the country in a Dragon’s Den-style interview. The team
impressed Head Judge Jimmy Goddard with their talent and enthusiasm for
the Challenge:
"It was fantastic to see such a young group of
people, aged only 11 to 12, use their skills in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Maths to produce such an outstanding design for the
competition."
The winning school were awarded £1000 worth of
equipment for their STEM Club and a VIP trip to a Wildfowl and Wetlands
Trust site supported by GE, at the national final on Saturday 12th March
at The Big Bang Fair.
Pupils received support in their preparation for the judging session by STEM Ambassadors. STEM Ambassadors volunteer from a wide range of STEM professions to enthuse and motivate young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Managed nationally by STEMNET, over 27,000 STEM Ambassadors are available as a free resource to all secondary schools in the UK.
The new wetsuit has now been manufactured for Jimmy Goddard and the team will see him wearing it at the Triathlon Event in Hyde Park on 8th August, 2011.
GE is particularly conscious of the lack of women choosing STEM subjects at school and entering careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. Through supporting the WISE (www.wisecampaign.org.uk) campaign and developing internal programmes that link with schooles we hope this will change!
See more STEM programmes - Project Pig - Girls into ICT
