Cowes Enterprise College proudly hosted the annual Isle of Wight Science Festival this Summer, an event dedicated to igniting students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
The festival, themed around ‘lighting a spark’, brought together twenty-three local companies that shared captivating exhibition stands, displays, demonstrations, and hands-on mini-tasks, creating a vibrant and engaging learning experience for Year 7 students at the academy.
The event featured diverse exhibition zones, including a Model Phased Array Radar system, a stunning 3.5-meter dinosaur skeleton, and an interactive model Ocean ‘Plankton Poo’ tank exhibit, showcasing the ocean’s carbon cycle. Students at the academy, part of Ormiston Academies Trust, were also thrilled by a demonstration on the mechanics of touch screens.
Among the various interactive workshops, the STEM Challenge Workshop was a standout, where students had the unique opportunity to plot safe routes for robots and to programme a robotic arm using Roboguide simulation software, growing not only their problem-solving skills but also offering a taste of real-world STEM applications.
All Year 7 students at Cowes Enterprise College also had the opportunity to watch a live science show by Dr Gareth Francis of Working Science who captivated the audience with experiments and insights into space exploration, including the Artemis programme and advancements from SpaceX and NASA. He demonstrated generating electricity with solar panels and fruit batteries, colour-changing chemical reactions with a purple cabbage indicator solution, and the principles of wave travel and reflection using a simple wave machine.
The thrilling festival also featured a Careers Speed Meet event for Year 10 and 12 students, helping to broaden the young scientists’ understanding of potential career opportunities, employability skills, and interview techniques, with support from the businesses and exhibitors.
As part of the academy’s Maritime Futures curriculum, Cowes Enterprise College also showcased its very own Maritime Showcase, where Year 7 students presented their exciting field trip findings exploring the effectiveness of coastal management in Cowes. Working in small groups, the passionate students demonstrated their geographical knowledge and collaborative skills, engaging enthusiastically with guests to answer questions and share their insights across their studies.
Rachel Kitley, Principal at Cowes Enterprise College, said:
“The annual Science Festival at Cowes Enterprise College is a testament to our commitment to inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals. The enthusiasm and curiosity shown by our students, combined with the incredible support from local companies and exhibitors, made this event truly remarkable. We are delighted to provide such enriching opportunities that spark a lifelong passion for science and technology.”
