For the first time since lockdown, Discovery Park opened its doors to more than 750 primary school children when they attended the East Kent Science Jamboree.
Held for the 8th time by the Sandwich-based science and innovation park, the event brought together leading companies involved in life sciences, space travel, mechanical engineering, renewable energy, food production and rail operators, including companies based on site, to spark a love of science in all its forms among the next generation.
Pupils and their teachers attended from 24 schools from across Canterbury, Dover and Thanet. The Science Jamboree was organised by Canterbury Christ Church University through The STEM Hub initiative, which provides information and events to inspire the next generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians through the work of STEM Ambassadors.
Highlights from the day included the Team Moon Space Show, which told how 400,000 people, including engineers, scientists, programmers and technicians, worked together to achieve the Apollo moon landings and mankind’s ‘one giant step’.
The pupils had the chance to launch their own rocket up to a 100ft high, higher than the tallest building at Discovery Park, after working with the team from Nasa Water Rokits who introduced them to the fundamentals of rocketry and satellites.
Mayer Schreiber, CEO of Discovery Park, said: “For many pupils this event marked their first ever visit to a science park and gave them hands-on science experience that brought classroom lessons to life. We are sure the day will prompt a greater curiosity of the world around them and inspire some pupils to find a career in science and technology.”
Dr Hellen Ward, Principal Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, who heads up The STEM Hub, added: “This is the 28th time the Science Jamboree has been run and introduced young people from Kent to the way that science touches their daily lives and makes a real difference to the world they live in.
“We’ve successfully held it virtually for the last three years, but nothing beats doing science hands-on in a group. Seeing the pupils’ reaction to the experiments is what The STEM Hub is all about, and a big thank you must go to all the companies who put on the workshops, and to Discovery Park for hosting.”
Pfizer’s team at Discovery Park helped pupils investigate whether vegetables can generate electricity or not, how magnetism works, and how to devise tests to identify unlabelled substances.
Cummins, also based at Discovery Park, highlighted how power generators work and save lives during emergency situations. Another company based on site, Resolian, demonstrated how surface tensions play an important role in everyday items such as paints, inks, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals by creating bigger and better bubbles.
Thanks to staff at RWE’s London Array offshore wind farm off the Thanet coast, the school children were given the opportunity to build their own wind turbine, and were also introduced to intensive horticulture production courtesy of APS Group.
Pupils also got to understand how Network Rail and Southeastern work hard to make sure passengers stay safe at railway stations and during their journeys.
EKC Group presented the science of floating fluids and how densities vary with the pupils using brightly coloured liquids of differing densities. The team from Canterbury Christ Church University helped pupils examine how magnetic dust particles are, and their source.
The inspirational educational science extravaganza is one of a calendar of STEM related activities that take place at Discovery Park throughout each year.
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