Celebrating Stem at Cambridge Launchpad Summer Gala
On 10th July 2024, Cambridge LaunchPad partners, schools and students came together to celebrate the programme’s achievements. This academic year has seen more than 1600 students aged 8-18 from Cambridgeshire schools taking part in 25 project days designed to showcase a range of STEM careers.
The Gala was attended by 40 students from Great Abington Primary, North Cambridge Academy, Coleridge Community College, and Long Road Sixth Form. The students were able to take part in a range of exciting STEM activities arranged by some of the LaunchPad partners, including Illumina, who 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 also featured panel discussions which looked at the importance of raising aspirations amongst the next generation by showcasing opportunities in STEM careers. The panel was led by Kath Austin from Form the Future and included Ewen Chamberlain, teacher at North Cambridge Academy, and Clare Kingsley, Senior Director at Illumina.
Kath Austin, Chief Programme Officer at Form the Future, commented, “Cambridge LaunchPad is a unique platform which enables STEM organisations in the Cambridge area to inspire school children 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 said, “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 science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) organisations, who invest their talent and resources to inspire school children and young people into STEM careers. Our Industry Partners and School Partners are at the heart of the programme experience. By connecting education and employment, we can showcase the diverse range of careers and education pathways into STEM industries and meet the growing demand for a skilled workforce in the Greater Cambridge region. Cambridge LaunchPad is a tiered scheme designed to suit students from Year 4 to the end of Year 12, at key points of their decision making – from primary school, to before selecting GCSE options, and to finessing advanced-level experiences.
If you are interested in inspiring the next generation of children with a passion for STEM, please contact Kath Austin at Form the Future on [email protected]