All-girl team links up with steel giant for STEM Challenge
An all-female team of budding young inventors from Staffordshire has teamed up with a global engineering giant as part of a regional schools competition.
Aged between 13 and 14, the team of six girls from Staffordshire University Academy in Hednesford has partnered with thyssenkrupp (UK) – the German steel group with its UK base in Solihull and a major operation at Cradley Heath – for the STEM Challenge 2018.
Overseen by Midlands News Association, publishers of the Express & Star and Shropshire Star newspapers, the STEM Challenge aims to boost pupil engagement in the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths by bringing together 25 teams from schools across the Black Country, Shropshire and Staffordshire to pit their creative skills against one another.
The contest is also a prime opportunity for students to form valuable links in the world of industry, with each team paired with a representative from a business or organisation who acts as their mentor throughout.
Scott Williams, director of teaching and learning at Staffordshire University Academy, has been charting the team’s progress.
He said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been partnered with such a world-renowned company as thyssenkrupp.
“Given that there is a national shortage of women working within STEM-related professions, we’ve really embraced the chance to get female students more involved in these subjects, which is why we’ve decided to put an all-girl team forward for the competition.
“The girls have all demonstrated potential and talent in STEM subjects, with enthusiasm and drive, and their parents have called in with excitement about the project.”
Each team is tasked with designing a product that aims to improve or enhance the quality of life for a group or person considered to be disadvantaged.
“Students have been using the skills that they’ve gained from their product design lessons to meet the brief that they’ve has been given,” Scott continues, “and although we are still in the early stages of development, the team has already made some real progress.”
Melanie Fleet, communications manager for thyssenkrupp (UK), has been appointed as the team’s mentor.
“It’s a privilege to be working alongside such a driven group of talented, young girls as part of the STEM Challenge and I’ve really been enjoying all that my mentoring role involves,” she said.
“Not only have I been able to connect the team with our engineering and design experts, I’m also planning a number of visits to give the girls an insight into the production process, including a trip to our Dorset based Marine Systems division, Atlas Electronik UK.”
“The students have already demonstrated real creative talent and I hope that the stellar example that they’ve set will encourage more young women to get involved in STEM-related areas.”
The team will display its final product as a working model during a special presentation event, which is due to take place at Dudley College of Technology on July 5.
The design will be judged against four criteria – Best Work Plan, Best Team Work, Best Operating Model, and Best Presentation.
Scott added: “On behalf of the school, I would like to say a big thank you to thyssenkrupp for all its continued support and would like to wish the team the very best of luck."
