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
ENDS
For more information, please contact Andrew Third, Integra Communications on 0115 912 4350 or email andrew@integracommunications.co.uk
Notes for Editors:
GO4SET National Sponsors include:
- BP – lead sponsor
- Selex Galileo – key sponsor
- BA Crest Awards
- GKN
- Royal Academy of Engineering
- IET
- The Robertson Trust
- The Scottish Government
- The Department for Children, Schools and Families
- EPSRC
The Engineering Development Trust (EDT) is an education charity that helps talented young people achieve their full potential, particularly in engineering, science and technology careers. The Trust runs four schemes, providing opportunities for 12-21 year old students to improve their technical and employment skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised courses: Go4SET, Engineering Education Scheme (England), Headstart and The Year in Industry. EDT Registered Charity Number 1002459.
All EDT schemes are members of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Best Programme. For more information visit www.etrust.org.uk
The East Midlands STEM Partnership is the voice of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the region. Through its members, the Partnership provides the stimulation, skills and support for STEM professionals of the future. Coordinated on emda’s behalf by The Marketing Division (TMD), it aims to:
- join up regional STEM activity across schools, further and higher education
- work on the solutions for gaps in provision
- promote opportunities and programmes to the STEM education and business audiences
- present a model of best practice to other regions
For more information, visit: www.emstempartnership.org.uk
About emda
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
- Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
- Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
- Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
- Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
- Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
- A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.
Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations. The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for ‘a flourishing region’ can be achieved.
For more details visit www.emda.org.uk