Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, there was much to celebrate – in 2019/20 Cambridge LaunchPad worked with 35 partners, saw 5200 students, and was able to host 88 events before many students moved to home-based learning.
The virtual STEM celebrations – normally taking place in person – celebrate the success of Cambridge LaunchPad students and all that they’ve learnt during the academic year, with this year being no exception.
Stars students (students aged 8-11) took part in a virtual ‘Stem-A-Long’ – a series of live virtual STEM activities to follow along with at home or school.
Cambridge LaunchPad partners Morgan Sindall Construction, Amey, Qualcomm and Founding Partner Marshall ADG provided engaging activities for the Stars, delivered via virtual Zoom workshop.
The activities included making a marble run with Morgan Sindall, creating homemade bird feeders with Amey, learning about the binary process with Qualcomm, and a paper plane challenge with Marshall ADG.
Innovators and Scholars students (students aged 12-17) heard from Cambridge LaunchPad partner Qualcomm, and Founding Partners Marshall ADG and TTP about some of the exciting projects they’ve been working on.
Marshall ADG covered their use of 3D printing, modifying surfaces and how this translates to their work in aerospace engineering. Qualcomm’s Director of Engineering, Luke Tunmer, explained the company’s work in tech, machine learning and computer science – and expressed his passion for working in STEM. Finally, Abi Graham from TTP explained her career path into STEM, and TTP’s extraordinary work tackling the Covid-19 crisis.
Molly Askham, Programme Delivery Manager, said: “Celebrating the success of our Cambridge LaunchPad students is always such a brilliant way to finish the academic year. Although this year was a little different to normal, it was fantastic to see engagement with the programme going from strength to strength and adapting to exciting new ways of virtual delivery. We are already looking forward to September and continuing to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.”