A Science lab was transformed into a lecture theatre last week, as our girls had a live online meeting with engineer Miriam Cristofoletti.

They were totally fascinated to hear about how she grew up in Italy, before graduating from Bristol with a first class honours degree in robotics engineering.

Her research was on how a robot arm could learn from a human arm, and she acknowledged ‘nothing works first time, but it was vital to never ever give up!’ She talked about the most important past and present figures in the Engineering industry and research environment, like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, but also Ada Lovelace, Mary Jackson and Katherine Johnson – they all started from nothing, from a garage or from a little desk, and they all built their way up with determination and strength, never giving up.

The girls had plenty of questions, and found out that some of Miriam’s inspiration comes from her favourite film ‘Iron Man’. When asked about bullying, she said it is not a problem now, but she was affected when she was little. On why she likes engineering, Miriam explained how she wants to be able to help people and support the community, at the same time as enjoying herself and ‘inventing stuff’.

Our conversational was full of motivational messages: ‘success is an iceberg’; ‘be your own role model’ and ‘be the first one.’

Miriam’s enthusiasm made a real impact on the girls; they left feeling excited and empowered: “she hooked me from the beginning”; “I loved that she was so inspiring”; “she opened my eyes and made me think ‘what can I do?’ and ‘how can I do it?”; “I feel like a new version of me”; “it’s going to be hard, but I have to do it!”

Keep an eye out for more exciting STEM opportunities…

Thanks Walhampton School for sharing!

The post CEO HIGHLIGHT: FULL ‘STEM’ AHEAD! first appeared on Primary Engineer.

School children from across Bristol got to see state-of-the-art body armour and robots at first hand when they were welcomed inside the doors of the Ministry of Defence’s procurement organisation.

Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), based at MOD Abbey Wood, played host to primary and secondary school children taking part the Primary Engineer Leaders Award competition.

Each has been asked to consider the question: “If you were an engineer, what would you do?^®” for the competition that aims to inspire future generations to pursue a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.

Once down on paper the competition entries will be shortlisted with one of the winning designs made into reality by engineers from The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol).

Ruby, age 11, from May Park Primary School in Bristol, said:

 “It’s been really interesting learning about how they make the pieces of kit, where they start from with the invention and planning. I like how we have been able to see lots of different equipment here to also help with our ideas. I don’t know what I might design yet, but it will probably be something that helps people.”

On show at MOD Abbey Wood was kit used by the armed forces including a nano surveillance helicopter and a bomb disposal robot, while cutting-edge research projects, including interactive lego robots and a wind turbine activity were also provided by DE&S partners, UWE Bristol.

As part of the Ministry of Defence, DE&S employs around 12,000 people around the UK and overseas including 3,200 engineers to buy and support all the equipment and services for the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

Air Marshal Julian Young, Chief of Materiel Air, who is also the Defence Engineering Champion and the lead Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador for DE&S, said:

“We were proud to support the Primary Engineer Leaders Award for the first time last year, and it was a great success.  This year we want to build on that foundation, strengthen our ties with the schools, pupils and teachers with the aim of encouraging more of the region’s school children to be curious about technology and one day to be enthralled about engineering.”

Primary Engineer CEO and founder Dr Susan Scurlock, MBE said of the programmes’ Leaders Award:

“The partnership between ourselves, DE&S and UWE has been one that has inspired children across the region with the possibilities that engineering offers.

“Through the Leaders Award project children look for problems often mending things that aren’t broken, an engineering skill! Often tackling problems big and small, but with meaning for them personally. It clearly demonstrates that engineering is not only full of Maths and Science but also creativity, observation and empathy and we are looking forward to being inspired with this year’s entries.”

UWE Bristol’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise, Professor Martin Boddy, said:

“We are proud to be part of this excellent initiative, which is opening the eyes of school pupils to the numerous ways in which engineering makes a real difference to society and inspiring them to get creative and come up with the engineering designs of the future.

“Our UWE engineering students will actually be constructing designs put together by the school pupils, helping them to see their ideas in practical terms. This gives the pupils a real insight into the process behind designing and manufacturing a product.”

The post MOD SITE OPENS ITS DOORS TO SCHOOL PUPILS IN EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE FUTURE ENGINEERS first appeared on Primary Engineer.