In pictures: Students get STEM inspiration at Cambridge LaunchPad Gala 2024
A programme that helps to inspire schoolchildren and young people into STEM careers has been celebrated at a gala event.
Cambridge Launchpad held 25 project days designed to showcase a range of STEM careers this academic year, with more than 1,600 students aged 8-18 from Cambridgeshire schools taking part.
The Cambridge Launchpad Gala was attended by 40 students from Great Abington Primary, North Cambridge Academy, Coleridge Community College and Long Road Sixth Form College.
The students were able to take part in a range of activities arranged by some of the LaunchPad partners, including Illumina, which also hosted the event, TTP and the University of Cambridge. The students met scientists and STEM professionals from Illumina, TTP and Form the Future.
The gala, held on Wednesday, 10 July, also featured panel discussions that looked at the importance of raising aspirations among the next generation by showcasing opportunities in STEM careers.
The panel was led by Kath Austin, chief programme officer from Form the Future, and included Ewen Chamberlain, a teacher at North Cambridge Academy, and Clare Kingsley, senior director at Illumina.
Ms Austin said: “Cambridge LaunchPad is a unique platform which enables STEM organisations in the Cambridge area to inspire schoolchildren and young people into STEM careers. 2024 has been a fantastic year in which we have seen students discover the exciting range of educational and career opportunities STEM offers in their local community.
“The Cambridge LaunchPad gala is a celebration of the year’s work and an opportunity to bring together the partners and schools who make this programme a success.”
Hollie Church, senior CSR specialist from Illumina, added: “It was our pleasure to host the Cambridge LaunchPad Gala at Illumina Centre, and to be part of such a prestigious event. STEM education and inspiring the next generation from a young age is so important, which is why we love partnering with Cambridge LaunchPad.
“So far this year, our STEM outreach has reached almost 2,000 budding new scientists in primary schools all over Cambridgeshire. We showcase how fun science can be by involving them in experiments such as extracting DNA from strawberries, and how a future career with companies like Illumina is something that they all can aspire to.”
Cambridge LaunchPad is a collaboration of Greater Cambridge organisations, who invest their talent and resources to inspire school children and young people into STEM careers.
If you are interested in inspiring the next generation of children with a passion for STEM, contact Ms Austin at Form the Future on kaustin@formthefuture.org.uk.
