Thales and Primary Engineer Join Forces to Inspire STEM Creativity
Primary Engineer® is delighted to announce Thales as a funding partner for the ‘If You Were an Engineer What Would You Do?®’ competition.
The competition asks pupils from primary schools, secondary schools and nurseries to identify a problem and design a solution to it. As pupils interview engineers and research engineering they are encouraged to look at the world around them to find problems an engineered solution could solve. Alongside their annotated drawings, an accompanying letter is required to persuade engineers to choose their design to build. The entries are graded by engineers and shortlisted, where a judging panel then selects regional winners. Public exhibitions are then arranged, celebrating the determination and creativity of students.
Chris Rochester, UK Director of Primary Engineer, said: “If You Were an Engineer, What Would You Do?®’ provides thousands of pupils the opportunity to be inspired by engineering professionals. Each year, Thales’ engineers have played a valuable part in doing exactly that. With their continued support for both South England and Northern Ireland, we will see even more pupils interview Thales professionals, providing a context to primary and secondary pupils’ engagement with engineering. Thales engineers are inspiring pupils and teachers through meaningful interaction, finding solutions to world issues based upon their own interests. By working together, Thales and Primary Engineer provide pupils with an opportunity to do this on a wider scale.’
Charlene Simms, STEM Education and Outreach Manager, Thales said: “Thales feel it is important to take an active role with regards to Corporate Social Responsibility when engaging with our local schools. The project with Primary Engineer® allows us to share our expertise and knowledge with teachers so they can deliver an informative and fun activity to the students they work with.”
Thales recognises the importance of introducing young minds across the UK to science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM), through initiatives inspiring young people. To learn more about engaging nursery, primary and secondary aged pupils in If You Were An Engineer, What Would You Do?®, visit www.leadersaward.com.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 83,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2019.
Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments.
Thales in the UK is a team of over 7,000 experts, including 4,500 highly skilled engineers, located across 10 key sites. In 2018, Thales UK’s revenues were around £1.7 billion.
About Primary Engineer®
Primary Engineer is an educational not-for-profit organisation that provides a suite of programmes to encourage children from 3 to 19 years to consider STEM careers. Primary Engineer inspires children, pupils, parents/carers and teachers through continued professional development, whole class project work, competitions, and engagement with engineering professionals to ensure the learning has a context to the wider world. Primary Engineer promotes engineering and addresses the diversity and gender imbalance in engineering with early years, primary and secondary pupils. For further information visit www.primaryengineer.com.