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As part of the internationally-celebrated ‘Women’s Day’, fifteen of our or Year 7, 8 and 9 girls attended the ‘Women in STEM’ event at the Winchester Science Centre.
Arrival at the Science Centre, where the girls were then put in to teams with girls from other schools, the aim being to design a skeleton bobsleigh made from K’NEX, this supporting a drinks bottle which would provide its source of motion. After testing their designs, everyone then experienced an amazing show in the Planetarium, exploring our solar system and the ISS. This was followed-up by experiencing the hands-ion space exhibits.
After lunch, everyone participated in a ‘STEM speed-networking’ event, where the girls got to meet female engineers and scientists who work for companies such as Toyota, P+O Cruises, and the Royal Navy, and who design and build our roads, prosthetic limbs, aircraft and other major areas of our everyday lives.
A representative from Nissan then gave a talk about how the company designed a bicycle for paralympian David Stone, MBE, who is a British para-cyclist. He has cerebral palsy, and has managed to be the best at his sport in Britain! This was followed by a presentation all about skiing, focussing on how able-bodied equipment is used compared to that used by paralympian skiers (some of whom won medals at the 2018 Paralympics!).
The event was very popular with our students, and very inspiring for them, helping everyone think about potential future STEM-related careers and studies.
