The James Dyson Foundation STEM Challenge Cards
The James Dyson Foundation have created STEM Challenge Cards designed for both children and adults to get stuck into experiments at home.
The experiments can be conducted using household items, ensuring that everyone can take part whilst stretching their brains and gaining a better appreciation of science, technology, engineering and maths. As 2018 is the Year of Engineering, the Women in Engineering Society's (WES) Young Member's Board have decided to give these challenges a go and film themselves doing so.
If you've ever wondered how to make raisins "dance", how to make a paperclip float on water, or how to design and build your own periscope to see around corners, follow @YMB1919 on twitter and @wesymb on Instagram. Videos will be posted every Friday over the course of this year - give the challenges a go with your family at weekends. For safety reasons, WES will advise if any challenges require appropriate adult supervision.
About the James Dyson Foundation
The James Dyson Foundation is dedicated to encouraging young people to think differently, make mistakes, invent and realise their engineering potential. James Dyson set up the foundation in 2002, to support design and engineering education.
About the Women in Engineering Society
The Women in Engineering Society (WES) is a charity and a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration, support and professional development. Working in partnership, they support and inspire women to achieve as engineers, scientists and as leaders and encourage the education of engineering; as well as supporting companies with gender diversity and inclusion. WES started life after World War I in 1919 when the pioneering women who worked in engineering and technical roles during the War campaigned to retain these roles when the war ended, find out more about the history of WES here.
About the Women in Engineering Society Young Member's Board
The WES Young Member's Board (YMB) consists of twelve women under the age of 30 who are working, training or studying in an engineering field. The board was formed in June 2015. The aim of the YMB is to make WES more accessible to younger members, to reflect their concerns and priorities and provide input to the WES Council, allowing the voices of younger women engineers to be heard. The women making up the YMB will also act as role models for young women considering engineering and applied science. The YMB will enable younger WES members to influence the direction of travel of WES, with the opportunity for personal, professional and leadership development through board experience and involvement in projects and strategy setting.
About the Year of Engineering
The Year of Engineering 2018 is a government campaign, which celebrates the world and wonder of engineering. It also forms an important part of their Industrial Strategy which is committed to boosting engineering across the UK, ensuring everyone has the skills needed to thrive in a modern economy. From spaceships to ice skates, the bubbles in chocolate bars to life saving cancer treatment, engineering touches every part of our lives. However, not enough young people – especially young girls – think it’s a world for them. As a result, the industry is struggling to recruit future talent. What’s more, young people are missing out on the chance to make a positive difference to both their futures, that of the planet and everything that calls it home.
Further information
Follow The Women in Engineering Society Young Member's Board twitter and Instagram accounts for updates on how they support women into engineering and throughout their careers.
