Robots moving ‘nuclear waste’, solar powered windmills and creating circuits were just some of the experiments that pupils from Eaglesfield Paddle Primary School tried during a day dedicated to science.
Pupils from every year group rotated around classrooms trying different science based experiments and learning about the different jobs the visiting companies do.
Sellafield Ltd sent a team of four from the Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor. The team took with them robots, rovers, circuits and solar powered windmills.
Claire O’Connor, Socio – Economic Lead at Sellafield Ltd’s Engineering Centre of Excellence, said: “I think we get as much out attending days like this as the children. As a company we are committed to ensuring that STEM is accessible for all.
“We know that children often wonder about what goes behind the gates at Sellafield and in the Engineering Centre of Excellence and this is our chance to show them.
“By bringing what we do to life we are inspiring the next generation. We’ve brought with us robots, rovers and we are encouraging them to use their fine motor skills, coding and electronics to build machines that work.
“It never ceases to amaze us what questions the pupils can think to ask. It’s rewarding for us too.”
Sellafield were just one of the companies invited. Atkins Global, Iggesund, Milcroft Vets, RWE Renewables and West Cumbrian Rivers Trust were also invited to take part in the school’s Science Day.
Amy Emmott, Science Lead at the school, said: “Days like today really broaden the pupils’ horizons, they can see the future careers that are open to them. They can see how what they learn in school can lead to a career in STEM.
“We are lucky that we have such a wide range of companies here too. It really shows the children that there are many different avenues a career in STEM can take you. There will be many jobs that the children haven’t even thought of before.
“Our hope is to inspire the children today to consider a future in STEM. Yes, they’re relatively young but what you learn at school can really make a difference to your future path and it’s really important to see how science is linked.
“It’s great to see them getting involved, being really engaged and asking lots of questions.”
