Virustatic promotes STEM in Welsh schools with Government charity
Pupils at Ysgol David Hughes taking part in the STEMCymru EESW Virustatic Project
“We want to say a huge thank you to Virustatic for being involved this year. Their participation has created quite the stir. Because so many students wanted to work on the project, we have had to create two groups to fulfil the demand.”
Virustatic is delighted to have taken part in a project with pupils at Ysgol David Hughes this year as part of the Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) STEMCymru 2021-2022 programme.
Funded by the European Social Fund, EESW is a non-profit, educational charity which has been in existence since 1989. It operates to show students in Wales how valuable a career in STEM can be. Pupils can also use the project towards their Welsh baccalaureate.
Each organisation that is involved in the programme sets a group of 6th form students a project brief before they are asked to draft a written report, produce a video presentation and experience a Dragon Den’s style Q&A session. Virustatic set a project brief around the best way to test the efficacy of masks and face coverings.
Virustatic’s Development Director, Lucy Hope, said:
“It is important to inspire a sense of wonder in young people when it comes to promoting STEM subjects. By joining the STEMCymru charity programme, and setting a real-life project brief, we hope to have contributed to supporting the aspirations of our brilliant young people in North Wales.”
“STEMCymru and EESW’s work plays an important part in securing the prosperity of science, technology and engineering in the UK and we’re proud to have been asked to take part.”
COVID-19 has shown young people around the globe just how important science and engineering is and the massive contribution it makes to improving our society.
And yet, after interviewing 1,100 11-19 year-olds, Engineering UK published a report which highlighted that the UK’s young people are concerned about what their careers and future prospects now hold after the pandemic.
93% of the 15-19 year-olds surveyed said that they were concerned that going to university or becoming an apprentice would become more difficult to pursue as a result of the pandemic.
62% of the young people surveyed worried that finding a job in the future would be more difficult since COVID-19.
The report recommends that the government and organisations involved in STEM and STEM inspiration must do more to highlight to all young people, whatever their background, that a career in STEM contributes to improving society.
Alice Murray, EESW North Wales Coordinator, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to Virustatic for being involved this year. Their participation has created quite the stir. Because so many students wanted to work on the project, we have had to create two groups to fulfil the demand.”
“Our programme gives students the chance to experience real-world situations and explore the challenges and developments that surrounds the STEM industry. Working on a face covering, which is very much a product of the world we find ourselves in, has helped students see how vitally important the STEM industry can be and how technology and science can quite literally protect and save lives. Our gratitude goes out to everyone at team Virustatic and we can’t wait to see the end results of the student’s work.”
Students will take part in an online Awards Presentation on Thursday, 8th July. The list of the available awards – each for a total of £500 – is below.
Good luck Team David Hughes!
