Now that’s Smart

Almost 500 schoolchildren were introduced to the world of STEM at Glasgow Caledonian University today.

The University’s SmartSTEMs Engineering Festival was aimed at S4 & S5 students (15-17 years old) and consisted of workshops, keynote addresses, an exhibition and prizes.

The event was designed to encourage young people, whatever their background, to learn about the myriad opportunities open to them through Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects.

Event organiser, Professor Patricia Munoz de Escalona, said: “The purpose of this event was also to promote the modern, innovative and exciting engineering programmes delivered by Glasgow Caledonian. The partnership with SmartSTEMs enhances the efficacy of our STEM engagement, as they seek to build and strengthen organisations, schools and individual networks to collectively drive the STEM agenda.”

Natalie Foulds, a teacher at the Glasgow Gaelic School, said: "For me, as a teacher in a secondary school, the main reason that I buy into these events and actively engage in them is to attach relevance to what we’re delivering within the classroom and to open up the walls of the school to allow the pupils to experience a wider variety of experiences in terms of what they’re learning in school, how that’s important and where that will take them once they leave their secondary education."

A separate SmartSTEMs event is then scheduled to be held on Friday, June 16, from 10am-12.30pm. This event is aimed at S3 students (13-15 years old) and students with special needs. The event is expected to attract around 60 attendees.