Secondary school pupils across Aberdeen City and Shire will put their maths, physics and engineering skills into practice this week, taking on a challenging oil and gas industry scenario at TechFest’s STEM in the Installation project.
The programme from TechFest is developed in conjunction with industry professionals from CNOOC, with the global energy company also sponsoring the initiative.
Groups of second year pupils from Turriff Academy, St Margaret's School for Girls, Robert Gordons College, Mackie Academy, Alford Academy and Hazelhead Academy will attend the event at the Sir Duncan Rice Library at the University of Aberdeen on Thursday, October 31.
They will take part in a series of workshops and challenges designed and presented by industry professionals and lecturers, including the Process Engineering Presentation and Challenge which tasks pupils to create their own processing plant by constructing a technical diagram.
Finally, the groups will take on a field development challenge with each team tasked to design and build a model platform with help available from industry professionals who can give advice to the pupils.
Like real field development challenges, the pupils must meet the requirements of an industry brief and consider factors including cost and health and safety. Each team will present their solution at the end of the session.
Sarah Chew, managing director of Techfest, said: “STEM in the Installation offers pupils interested in maths, physics and engineering the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals from CNOOC and find out about the jobs and career paths available in the sector.
“It’s also a brilliant opportunity for the students to develop their personal skills as the challenges throughout the day require problem solving, teamwork and communication. We’re really looking forward to seeing how the pupils tackle this project and can’t wait to see their presentations on the day.”
Ray Riddoch, managing director UK & senior VP Europe and Africa, CNOOC International, said: “STEM subjects are incredibly important in preparing students for their future in the workplace. STEM In the Installation is a fantastic way to show the pupils how the energy they consume is produced and how STEM subjects are applied in our industry.
“Inspiring the next generation’s learning and creativity by supporting this initiative is an investment for us in our own future as well as those of the pupils taking part.”
Each year, TechFest runs Aberdeen and North-east Scotland’s annual festival of STEM which attracts tens of thousands of children and adults to a series of presentations, workshops and events in and around Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.
