West Midlands Manufacturing Festival
The IOM3 Education and Outreach team engaged with over 700 secondary school students at the West Midlands Manufacturing Festival.
On Thursday 26 February, IOM3 Head of Education and Professional Development Dr Diane Aston FIMMM and IOM3 Education & Outreach Executive Jasneet Kaur, attended the West Midlands Manufacturing Festival at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich. Read more about their experience in this blog.
The festival brought together educators, students and industry to celebrate the region's industrial heritage in the manufacturing sector. The event was a STEM showcase featuring over 30 different organisations that are involved in materials and manufacturing.
We interacted with over 700 secondary school pupils from 12 schools throughout the day. Our exhibition stand included a range of different materials from our discovery boxes. Students were encouraged to explore the materials, and a typical conversation involved students selecting a material that caught their attention and learning about its properties, how it is used and why it is important. We aimed to spark curiosity about materials that make up the world, and often, students would be surprised by these facts. A particularly popular object was the aortic graft made up of woven and knitted polyester. Students were surprised to learn that the same material that their jackets and blazers contain can also be used to replace the largest blood vessel in the human body!
We were pleased to be part of a day dedicated to highlighting the opportunities that materials, minerals and mining offer to the next generation. The festival provided an opportunity to engage directly with young people and teachers, raising awareness of the role materials play in everyday technologies and future industries. It was also a great chance to share more about the work of IOM3 and the role we play in supporting education, professional development and careers in materials.
We are excited by the opportunity to take part in more STEM showcase events in the future. If you would like IOM3 at your next showcase or careers event, please get in touch with the Education and Outreach team by emailing [email protected].
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