Form the Future was thrilled to join Illumina at their headquarters in Cambridge last week to celebrate DNA Day 2024.
Continuing our work bridging the chasm between students and role models in industry, we brought 150 students aged 9-11 from Godmanchester Bridge Academy, Ridgefield Primary School, and Alconbury Primary School. These students engaged in hands-on science activities, including extracting DNA from strawberries, meeting real scientists and learning about their jobs, and a unique opportunity touring Illumina’s state-of-the-art laboratory.
A special highlight of the day was HRH The Princess Royal’s visit to the event. Princess Anne’s presence underscored the importance of genomics and STEM education, inspiring young learners to explore the world of science.
“We are immensely grateful for Illumina’s support as our corporate partner, enabling us to engage primary school students in stimulating STEM activities. Their funding and dedication to releasing staff to work alongside us are instrumental in inspiring young minds and fostering a belief that a future in STEM is within reach, particularly those from families where there's no connection to STEM."
Anne Bailey - CEO of Form the Future
Events like these are crucial because they put young people at the centre of a global STEM company. This experience gave them access to hard-to-reach areas of the business, showing them how their STEM subjects at school play out in real-life workplaces and marking the route they can follow into STEM careers.
