Pupils tap into their engineering skills at YESC water challenge

Pupils from Forgandenny Primary School put their engineering skills to the test at a special event organised to encourage more young people into science, technology, engineering, or maths (STEM) related careers.

Organised by the Young Engineers and Science Clubs Scotland (YESC), more than 500 young people from 50 schools across the length and breadth of Scotland descended on Glasgow Science Centre for the annual Celebration of STEM event.

The pupils from Forgandenny Primary worked as a team to crack the challenge and successfully set up a water infrastructure network, reaching key locations and keeping within a specific budget, in only three minutes.

Jane Martin, programme director of YESC, said: “YESC’s ambition is to grow interest and spark enthusiasm in STEM subjects by encouraging young people to get involved in exciting activities and challenges.

“The Celebration of STEM event is a fantastic way for pupils to engage with businesses that rely on these skills and see the many different careers that are open to them.

“I’d like to thank all our partner organisations for helping to make this event such a success.”

Tony March, public sector manager from Anglian Water Business, which set the Forgandenny pupils’ challenge, said: “This event has been a great opportunity to show these talented young people the wide variety of careers open to those with STEM qualifications and get them excited about their future job prospects.

“For the UK as a whole, the utilities sector has forecast it will require 221,000 new recruits with a background in a STEM subject by 2027.”