STEM

STEM at Sheffield Aero Club

Brian Hope introduces Colin Anthony, a STEM Ambassador, who explains how STEM can attract young people into a career in aviation

What is STEM? In a pastime where engineering is a prime activity, I guess most members of the LAA will know that STEM is an educational initiative designed to encourage young people to take an interest in the fundamental subjects for a career in science and technology, STEM being the acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. The initiative started as long ago as 2001 in the US and has been taken up by a number of other countries since, including the UK.

Here the scheme is run STEM Learning Limited, in partnership with government, charitable trusts and employers, and they work with schools, colleges and industry across the UK. The reason for the initiative is because it was recognised that there was a dire shortage of young people going forward into careers in science and technology, and this would inevitably have a negative effect on UK industry in our ever-more technological world. Below The six youngsters from the David Nieper Academy who enjoyed a day at Sheffield Aero Club to learn about STEM and aviation. Seen with flying instructor Christine Carlin.

The STEM Learning website (www.stem.org.uk) explains the opportunities for industry and associations to get involved in inspiring youngsters in understanding the opportunities that aviation has to offer in the science, technology and engineering fields. I will hand over to Colin Anthony to explain how the Sheffield Aero Club at Netherthorpe ran a successful STEM event in October last year.

Colin Anthony:

“The demand for STEM skills in the UK has reached a critical point, and we are calling on businesses to join our efforts to grow the future STEM workforce.”

When I read that quote from Stem Learning, it hit a chime with me and I wondered how I could help out, as I had entered the world of aerospace as a 16-year-old engineering apprentice with Rolls-Royce in 1990.

I think like much volunteering work, you have to make it work for you too, you need to get something out of it. I decided to take the plunge and become a STEM Ambassador. This was a straightforward process and was completed online; along with completing a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. This is also straightforward and done as part of the main application, if completed through STEM it is also free of charge, saving £40. STEM Ambassadorship is also free.

Once you get the Ambassador’s ID card and DBS certificate, you can either start volunteering for STEM activities or creating your own. The events are published through the STEM website, where you register online, the activities range from going into schools to help with mock job interviews, or helping in STEM subjects, using practical activities or going to airshows to do interactive activities with visiting kids – and to answer your question, yes you do get free entry to the airshow as a STEM Ambassador!

You can do your STEM activities as a team or as an individual. If you are working in a STEM sector, there is also a high probability that your boss will let you have the time off with full pay, it is up to five days per calendar year where I work.

Once I was registered, I decided to review the online activities list, however, there was little to do with aircraft engineering or flying. There was some airport, RAF and museum involvement but was the sum of it. Although interesting, it was all based in the classroom, so I decided to plan and execute my own STEM activity day. I recently completed my first activity, delivered to six pupils of the

“I was a little nervous about getting in front and presenting to a load of 14 to 16 year olds but they were great and interacted really well”

David Nieper Academy from Alfreton and using the facilities at Sheffield Aero Club at Netherthorpe, in association with Rolls-Royce. The activity was titled How does an aeroplane fly? – The Four Forces. I was mindful that dealing with young people you need to keep their attention and to pitch the presentation for their age group – I had chosen the 14 to 16 age group. The activity brings together science (physics), the four forces harnessed to enable flight; along with technology within the aircraft; and finally Engineering, how the aircraft is constructed and maintained.

Chuck gliders

I decided to go light on the projected Microsoft PPT slides, no death by ‘vu-foil’ as we used to call it, and instead use activities interactive with the presentation as a means of getting things across. Much use of chuck gliders, elastic bands for thrust and quicker lift, and a simple aerofoil made out of an A4 sheet A4 paper and a pencil (lift being created with a hairdryer). Thrust and propulsion were shown with a mass release of toy balloons – much fun was had with that!

I then enabled the forces demonstrated in the classroom to be appreciated with an air experience flight, these were split into two flights of three pupils in a PA28 Cherokee. Following a pre-flight brief around the control surfaces, instructor Christine Carlin took the flights up and demonstrated how the four forces are controlled during flight; this was especially a hit when they flew over the academy during the lunch break! During planning for the activity, it was suggested that use of simulators could be made, so this was added into the day plan where Peter Ford configured a simulated Cherokee to complete an eight mile final, this was flown by each pupil, and of course was good fun with much competition between the two teams! This activity also reinforced what the pupils had Above Mark Bonsall explains some of the technology in light aircraft and maintenance engineering.

Right Models were used to explain thrust and aerodynamics.

experienced in the real flying with the Cherokee. A further extension of the day was a hangar tour where Colin Cave used his East Midlands Aero park tour guide skills to good effect. This included a visit to Dukeries Aviation where Mark Bonsall spent time talking about aircraft and engine construction, maintenance and repair with some live examples on show. At first, I was a little nervous about getting in front and presenting to a load of 14 to 16 year olds but they were great and interacted really well, all performed enthusiastically and, most importantly, they really enjoyed their day out.

Unfortunately, Aviation is under-represented within STEM, especially our end of the spectrum.

Wouldn’t it be great to roll this or a similar light aviation-based activity out to more schools, academies and youth groups around the country and have more STEM Ambassadors on board in the LAA?

If you have experience or skills to offer, you should give some thought to the STEM Ambassadors role, if you would like to discuss further please let me know. Colin.anthony@rolls-royce.com

• During the spring of 2020, and to complement the schools Four forces of flight course, Colin will be rolling out a further three new STEM courses for the Scout Association’s Stages 4 to 6 Air Activities Badges. ■