Professor Brian Cox encourages Northern Ireland's future scientists to activate their curiosity at STEAM school initiative

Renowned physicist and television presenter Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS has visited Ballymena to take part in a pioneering schools initiative designed to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.

Professor Cox hosted the ‘Activate your Curiosity’ event at The Braid today, alongside distinguished educators and industry experts from the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM).

The initiative is part-funded by the Department for Communities, Labour Market Partnership, which develops targeted employment action plans for council areas, allowing for collaboration at local and regional level to support people into work.

The event, led by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, aims to ignite the curiosity of up to 400 young people by showcasing the dynamic career pathways within STEAM fields.

It attracted students from across Northern Ireland, offering them an exciting opportunity to engage with hands-on experiments, insightful discussions, and inspiring seminars.

Professor Cox, a former member of the pop group D:Ream, met students to highlight the career pathways and opportunities available to the future workforce.

“I was delighted to be able to attend this event for the second year running and help to encourage students in Northern Ireland to develop an interest in science and engineering”, said Professor Cox.

“These young people are our ‘future’ and we hope today’s event may lead them towards a fulfilling job in STEAM with exciting career prospects.

“The event offers the students a great mix of inspiration and innovation coupled with a practical ‘learning by doing’ approach which should activate the curiosity of everyone attending.

“These students have the talent to make a positive difference through STEAM within our local communities, across our planet and beyond.  Our mission today is to help unlock this fantastic human resource and Northern Ireland has a key role to play in making the UK the best place in the world to do science and engineering.”

The event featured keynote addresses from prominent figures, including Dr Gerry Gormley, General Practitioner and Professor of Simulation at Queen’s University Belfast. Dr Andy Harris, Head of Research & Data Analytics at Wrightbus, and representatives from leading companies GES Group and Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, also took to the stage to share their insight with those present.

Pupils from schools in Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Dungannon, Larne and Omagh participated in the event, including Ballymena Academy, Slemish College, Larne Grammar School, Ulidia College.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Alderman Beth Adger, MBE, said the Council was delighted to be working with local businesses, schools, universities, and partner organisations to bring this initiative to the borough:

“The Activate Your Curiosity event lifts a lid on the myriad of opportunities that exist in science.”

“It is our hope that young people will be inspired to embark on an exciting future in this field – and maybe even become leaders in science.”

The event was sponsored by a wide range of local and international companies, including Kilwaughter Minerals, Ryobi, Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, Moore Concrete, Teva, EPUKI, Michelin Development, Caterpillar, GES Group, Wrightbus, and Phoenix Energy.

Established in 2012 at St Paul’s Way Trust School in East London by Professor Cox and Lord Andrew Mawson OBE and has since expanded nationally with the aim of making ‘the UK the best place to do science and engineering in the world’.

Graham Whitehurst MBE, Chairman of the Manufacturing Task Force, said strong partnerships are developing between companies, schools, academia and the public sector as a result of the initiative.

“Evidence indicates that by connecting students with industry leaders and providing them with practical, hands-on experiences achieved through these types of interventions, we are inspiring the next generation of innovators, creators, and problem solvers and making the connections for the pipeline of talent from school to employment” he said.

Fiona Byrne, Organisational Development Director at Headline Sponsor, Kilwaughter Minerals Ltd, said Kilwaughter is delighted to be headline sponsor of this event for a second consecutive year.

“This event provides young people with a great opportunity to explore the varied career pathways in STEAM related subjects whilst giving them an opportunity to connect with industry experts” she said.

“We feel it is important to support initiatives of this nature that encourage engagement with local schools and young people to give them an insight into different career opportunities and hopefully support them to make a better-informed decision for their own career pathway.”

For further information on the initiative visit www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ScienceSummerSchool