Hundreds of schoolchildren visit IChemE to be inspired by chemical engineers

ICHEME has hosted more than 300 schoolchildren at its UK headquarters where they met with real-life engineers and took on engineering challenges, to inspire them about the prospects of a career in chemical engineering.

The Big Bang on Location event took place on 14 November as part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week and was run in partnership with EngineeringUK. Chemical engineers from a wide range of companies including Britvic, MWH Treatment, Veolia, and Teesside University put on engineering challenges and hosted stands for 10–18-year-olds from local schools and colleges.

Jo Cox, head of young people's and student engagement at IChemE, said: “This was a first for IChemE, to have a STEM careers fair dedicated to just chemical and process engineering. The range of activities and demonstrations and the engagement of all the young people who were present really shines a light on the wealth of opportunities that this career route offers. I am hugely grateful to all the exhibitors who attended, the undergraduate students who came along to help the young people engage and interact – and, of course, all the staff who made the day possible.”

IChemE says it has received positive feedback from teachers about how engaged and inspired the children were, with many teachers saying they hope the event runs again next year.

Chemical engineers react

Among those who attended were chemical engineering undergraduates from UK universities who volunteered to guide the schoolchildren around the event. Asked why they volunteered and what they had gained from the experience, many said they wanted to inspire the next generation and use the experience to improve their own skills.

Aishwarya Vina Nair, a second-year chemical engineering student at the University of Birmingham, said: “I thought of it as an opportunity to put myself out there because opportunities like this give you a platform to work on your communication skills, your presentation skills, because that is very important down the line when you're applying for a job.”

Alexander Smith, a first-year student at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “When you're in university, you’re in this one place constantly. This is my first opportunity being able to reach out to people, get networking, see all the companies here. I’ve been asking about the graduate schemes which I want to get into. I think that’s really good for me.”

As for the students he guided about the event, Smith added: “I hope they see that engineers are a variety of people. That there are a variety of roles in engineering.”

Engineering challenges

Schoolchildren visiting the event got to see a Lego Technic version of a cupcake production line; experience virtual reality and control a chemical process remotely.

Keira O’Byrne, a graduate project delivery engineer at MWH Treatment, guided schoolchildren through a challenge where they learned how a water treatment plant works and then engineered their own process using a funnel, sand, charcoal, and gravel to filter a bottle of dirty water.

O’Byrne said she struggled at college but went on to become the first in her family to go to university, graduating with a master’s degree in chemical engineering.

“I’m sort of representing a few minorities in STEM, being a woman. We’re growing but there’s not many of us in STEM. Having disabilities as well is a great thing to talk to the kids about. I'm dyslexic, and on the pathway for autism [diagnosis].”

She said it’s important to show schoolchildren that whatever their circumstances “people are still able to do the big science-y jobs”.

“If it doesn’t go too well with your results, you can still get to where you want to be…There’s so much to do, so much to learn, so much to challenge yourself with. And you don't have to be stuck in a boring job.”

Nikhil Mehta, a graduate process engineer with PM Group, ran a task where student had to “mine” chocolate chips from cookies using lolly sticks, and then choose how to invest the profits from getting the chocolate out. Should they buy sharper extraction tools, or put their money into acquiring bigger cookies?

“It's a challenge to help them understand what it is to be a process engineer. They've all enjoyed the experience, getting hands on. It was really interesting to see their different approaches to the task. It's been really fun.

“When I was a kid, I went to The Big Bang Fair. So, when I heard that there was a Big Bang event [being hosted by IChemE], I wanted to get involved,” Mehta added.

“I like volunteering, helping with kids, and seeing the impact that we have on the next generation.”

Sarah Collinson, a teacher from Caludon Castle school in Coventry, said she brought students aged 12-14 to the event so they could learn about STEM career opportunities. She said: “Our students really enjoyed having the opportunity to get hands on, especially the cookie mining challenge. It was a pleasure to see them interact with employers and engineering students, and really engage with the opportunities that were provided for them."