Trailblazing festival inspires pupils to spread their wings
Rolls-royce is among the many big names lined up by Glasgow Science Centre's latest festival, Curious About Innovation, to interest more Scottish youngsters in science and technology careers. By Colin Cardwell
WHEN Rolls-royce recently announced it was developing the Spirit of Innovation, an all-electric plane, it was further evidence of the company’s global leadership in aviation and also of its commitment to engaging young people in considering a career in STEM subjects.
Rolls-royce is a key industry partner at Glasgow Science Centre’s (GSC) Curious About Innovation online festival, which launches today (May 19) and runs until Friday, complementing GSC’S STEM Futures programme. It is aimed especially at secondary schools, highlighting exciting science and technology while showcasing possible routes to further learning they may not previously have considered.
The event is the second in the series, following Curious About Our Planet, GSC’S first digital science offering in February that focused on its Our World, Our Impact programme, and helping young people get to grips with the science of Climate Change.
Curious About Innovation features live talks, interviews, online games and workshops which focus on innovation in several sectors: space, cyber security, engineering, robotics, the environment (climate change) and construction with public events in addition to those targeted at schools.
It utilises the expertise of senior business partners who include the Royal Navy, IBM, Morrison Construction (see article below), the National Oceanographic Centre, NASA, the universities of Strathclyde and Glasgow and Cubesat manufacturer Glasgow AAC Clyde Space.
George Addison, who is head of manufacturing at Rolls-royce at Inchinnan, Renfrewshire – the company’s second-largest civil aerospace facility in the UK behind its Derby base and which manufactures compressor aerofoils, turbines and mainline engine shafts – is enthusiastic about the event partnership.
“I joined Rolls-royce in 1992 as a craft apprentice and in my experience the company has always been at the forefront of attracting young people, whether through craft and technical apprenticeships or graduate schemes.
“When I was training I had the opportunity to go to local primary schools to explain technical and scientific experiments and really get children excited about science-based activities,” he says, adding that the company made a commitment last year to inspire six million young people in STEM worldwide by 2030. At Curious About Innovation, the team from Rolls-royce at Inchinnan explains how the jet engine works and looks at future innovation, while introducing its upcoming Game Changers project, which includes teaching young people how to build a Greenpower IET 24+ single seater electric racing car.
“We are joining other blue-chip organisations operating locally – the Royal Navy, RAF, BAE systems and Thales – in this, says Addison. “And we are all aiming to get people motivated whose backgrounds have perhaps not lent themselves to pursuing those opportunities, instilling them with the confidence to progress and take up a career in the area of science and technology.
“That’s mutually beneficial in that our young people at Rolls-royce also have the opportunity for selfdevelopment, dealing with the public and challenges on various levels while improving their own self-confidence.”
They have an impressive heritage to draw upon, one that dates from the Merlin engines built for Spitfires during the Second World War at the company’s former plant in Hillington to manufacturing components for the engines powering the latest Civil Large Engines airliners and what
Addison describes as the most efficient airline engine on the market, the Trent XWB for Airbus – and on to the development of electric aircraft.
“We’ve produced a 45-minute video demonstrating all the processes in manufacturing a compressor aerofoil from raw materials coming into the factory to completion and trying to harness people’s imagination through viewing that journey,” he says.
He believes there’s a continuing need in Scotland not just to “make things” but to be innovative on a world-beating level.
“As someone who has spent my entire career with Rolls-royce I wouldn’t describe myself as a scholar while at school; however I still had the opportunity to complete a Master’s degree at the University of Strathclyde when in my forties and working with the company I truly believe it doesn’t matter what your background or current situation is.
“If you have the aspiration and the hunger there’s a multitude of opportunities in the aerospace and other engineering sectors out there. It’s important to follow your dreams.” Curious About Innovation is funded by the Inspiring Science Fund plus additional support from JP Morgan, Mathworks and the University of Strathclyde.
Visit curiousabout. glasgowsciencecentre.org