Over 80 girls from local secondary schools enjoyed a full day of STEM activities organised by the new iSTEM Banbury Hub at the Space Studio, a remarkable section of the Academy devoted to STEM and the planets, stars and galaxies of outer space.
Introduced by the Mayor of Banbury, the keynote speaker, Orla Murphy, IET Young Woman Engineer 2016, talked of her choice to become an engineer in infotainment at Jaguar Land Rover because of her love of both engineering and music.
Abi Hirons, aged 16, from Academy Racing, the F1 In Schools UK winning team, enthralled the girls with her role in the design, testing and racing of their miniature car. She looks forward to competing in the International Finals in Kuala Lumpur in September.
The girls were then involved in STEM workshops and the day ended with them watching colourful rocket powered cars, made by the girls, race across the playground.
Quotes from the girls:
'I had the most fun ever today'
'Don't be afraid that people will judge you being a girl, we can do anything twice as well as men'
'It was amazing'
'Today as made me consider a career as an engineer'
'One day, a life long change'
'We are the people of the future'
'Engineering has inspired me today'
'Great event, inspiring girls to be involved
'Stem is the start of everything'
ps: Just a few boys were allowed.
Photos, Orla Murphy, Abi Hirons, Abi Hirons discusses her F1 In Schools project with some of the girls, The Girls' Rocket Cars Ready to Race
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