Renishaw sponsors STEMworks education outreach programme

23 March 2022

Global engineering technologies company, Renishaw, is continuing its sponsorship of STEMworks, a local non-profit organisation that runs a county-wide competition for primary school children aged seven to eleven. STEMworks have been visiting schools around Gloucestershire from September 2021 to find a winning team from each school who will take part in the Gloucestershire K'Nex final in the summer term, to be held at Renishaw's New Mills site in Wotton-under-Edge.

During the sessions, STEMworks gives talks to the participants about what engineering is and what engineers do. The workshops are also occasionally supported by Renishaw's STEM ambassadors, who use their real-world engineering experience to help the children with their projects and provide an engineering role model throughout the sessions.

This year, participants will be challenged to create an eco home out of K'Nex to help publicise the importance of sustainable construction techniques. The eco homes must include two different eco technologies, such as solar or wind power, have moving parts and four different rooms. To promote social equality, the designs must be accessible for all users. Teams will be judged on the structural accuracy, integrated technology and creativity of the build before a winning team is announced. Participants will also be scored on their teamwork abilities, such as communication and problem solving, to replicate a real-life collaborative workplace.

“The K'Nex challenge that STEMworks runs is a brilliant initiative that gives potential future engineers an opportunity to learn practical engineering skills,” explained Rebecca Bound, Early Careers STEM Outreach Officer at Renishaw. “The workshops teach young people how to work as part of a team and gives them real-world experience in design, teamwork and creativity. We are also passionate about working with STEMworks because their sessions promote inclusivity, with different ages and genders taking part. Renishaw believes that being part of a competition helps drive innovation and this is certainly the case with this challenge.”

“This K'Nex competititon provides children with real world Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) experience, helping to spark a lifelong interest,” explained Mo Follis, Director at STEMworks. “It brings together many elements of the school curriculum in one project, such as creativity, teamwork and engineering. The support of Renishaw has helped to raise pupil aspirations, highlights future career opportunities and showcases the relevance that engineers have on the world around us.”

To find out more about Renishaw's STEM Outreach programme visit www.renishaw.com/education-outreach

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