Stem event helps students learn 'real science'

More than 1,500 children have descended on the Sandwich Discovery Park for a hands-on exhibition to inspire a new generation of scientists.

Everything from the biggest bubble blowing to catching a sandwich thief is being demonstrated by scientists from different organisations across Kent at a science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) education event.

Pamela Lithgow, from the Canterbury Christchurch University Stem hub, said the event was helping young people understand "real science in the real world".

She added: "We welcome everyone to this event but we are particularly keen to see children from deprived areas and also young girls and those who want to be engineers."

"When engineers make things, they often do so to solve their own problems so we need as diverse a range of people making things as possible so that they make all our lives better."

The two-day annual jamboree, celebrating its 30th anniversary, was established by members of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer in 1985 and now works with more than 50 schools in Kent.

Teams from businesses such as Southern Water and the Royal Engineers Museum in Medway showed pupils interactive Stem exhibits including making and launching a rocket, and filtering dirty water.

Discovery Park is recognized as one of six Life Science Opportunity Zones in the UK by the government, with over 180 companies employing 3,000 people across the 220 acres site.

The site was created by Pfizer 70 years ago but was scaled down in 2011.

Ruth Wish, assistant head of Minster Church of England Primary School, brought the school's Year Six cohort for the first time this year.

She added: "We feel like it's really important to show our pupils there is a massive, huge growing future in Stem as they head towards secondary school and we want them to enjoy science too."

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