CEMEX has joined the Cambridge Science Centre Executive Council to support them in their mission of delivering STEM engagement to children across the UK. We are working together to break down the barriers of STEM learning by making science accessible, visual and fun from an early age. Our aim is to ensure that all the children we reach, know that STEM can be for anyone and everyone! This partnership will allow us to promote the variety of STEM based roles we have within our sector to also aid in our continued efforts in diversifying our workplaces. We will be doing this by providing our business expertise and working together with their teams to create lessons that are based around the science within our industry.
The impact of COVID-19 on the centre has been significant however, they have adapted through digital technologies via online YouTube lessons, virtual school trips and science magazines. Through these new ways of working, they have had over 34,000 children access their online free show and over 450 schools signed up to receive them. The pandemic has had a huge effect on children’s education, in particular with children that are unable to access online teaching. Through the ‘OpenUpScience’ weekly themed paper magazines packed full of exciting and inspiring STEM activities so children still have the ability to access STEM learning, these magazines have been distributed to foodbanks and COVID-19 response groups.
Andlyn White, CEMEX UK CSR Specialist, commented: “Our goal for this partnership is to assist in reducing the STEM skills gap by engaging with young children and getting them excited about science. We live in a world that is rapidly and continuously changing and it is important that we give all children the opportunity to get involved in STEM based activities regardless of their socioeconomic background, gender or ethnicity. The pandemic has shown us that science continues to be vital in our everyday lives. We are very excited to collaborate with CSC to work towards a common mission to promote that STEM is for everyone.”
The Cambridge Science Centre have an interactive, hands-on science centre which is a place for young people to engage and learn different areas of science is a very visual and practical way. For more information please visit the webpage on http://www.cambridgesciencecentre.org/