Personnel from HMS Sultan recently took part in one of the South Coast’s biggest career events promoting Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to young people, ‘The Big Bang @ Solent’.
Personnel from the Defence College of Technical Training’s Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School and Defence School of Marine Engineering represented the Royal Navy alongside over 65 interactive displays from across all sectors of the STEM industry at The Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.
Over 1,000, 11-16 year olds travelled from schools across the Solent region, from Poole right across to the Havant area attended the event.
Cath Longhurst , Chief Executive of the Education Business Partnership, who organised the event said: “Today is really about inspiring young people.
“We know that Science subjects are really important and we know that science is key for the economy and for the future of technology and engineering.”
“What we really want to do is to capture young peoples interest and make them realise that science and technology could be something for them, and at least help them to consider it as an idea for a future career.”
The Royal Navy’s display stand included a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, with children taking the opportunity to climb aboard to explore the aircraft.
In addition personnel wore large badges designed to encourage the students to open up and ask lots of questions about engineering within the Royal Navy.
With companies and organisations from all sectors of STEM industry represented, the Royal Navy University Technical College team were also in attendance to promote UTC Portsmouth, which will open in September 2017, specialising in electrical and mechanical engineering, and advanced manufacturing.
Lieutenant Paul Mulroy was among the many STEM Ambassadors’ in attendance from HMS Sultan. He said: “We’re here today to help provide answers to some of the burning questions that the students may have and can’t get answers to elsewhere.”
“We’ve been taking time with them explaining about the many branch options within engineering that may be open to them and have also been helping the students to get their own ideas down on to paper.
“The feedback from the students involved has been really positive.”
