More than 50 students aged between 12 and 14 from thirteen schools across, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire have spent 10 weeks working on a project designed to inspire the scientists and engineers of the future. The students are taking part in the Go4SET (Go for Science, Engineering and Technology) programme and, having completed their project, will be attending a Celebration and Assessment Day at the CELS Building at Nottingham Trent University on the 16th March.
Teams of students are representing their schools and working with mentors from local companies on water and energy conservation projects. The school teams will be presenting their conclusions to judges who will award prizes in such areas as best project, best teamwork and for innovation.
Gareth Swinhoe, a teacher at Harry Carlton School near Loughborough says: “To be working with a commercial company on a project with direct implications for the environment gives the students a really wonderful insight into what a career in science or engineering might be like. In this way Go4SET is really useful in developing our scientists and engineers for the future”
Go4SET is a work-related learning scheme designed to stimulate young people’s interest in science, engineering and technology (SET) at a key stage in their education. Delivered by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) and funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) through its £6 million STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) initiative, the project links schools and businesses together to deliver a solution to an environmental problem which is both relevant to the school and the company.
Amy Trunkfield from E.on who has been working with the students from Eastwood School as a mentor says: “Working with a school on a Go4SET project is an excellent opportunity to inspire young people to follow careers in science and engineering by introducing them to the exciting work that is currently being undertaken in industry and supporting them in the development of their own project.”
Andrew Morgan, East Midlands Development Agency’s (emda) Skills and Communities Director, added: “Go4SET is an excellent scheme, which gets the region’s students involved with local businesses and nurtures talent by inspiring students to become the scientists and engineers of the future. Our partnership with EDT to deliver this inspiring project is particularly important to maintain the East Midlands’ future economic development and help it become a flourishing region.”
Schools or companies interested in taking part in future Go4SET programmes should contact Geoff Jellis on 0115 951 6688