17th February 2025
“As a female who teaches in the Engineering department, I want to inspire other young females to explore options in this diverse and innovative sector.”
Jen Bevin-Mills, Lecturer in Engineering at South Devon College, did just this when she was involved in an introductory day for local school children.
The Girls in STEM Day was organised by the College’s Technology department to encourage girls to engage with, and consider a career in, technology, showcasing the facilities in the Hi Tech & Digital Centre to 15 students from Preston Primary School.
The programme has the aims of encouraging young girls to explore their potential in traditionally male-dominated fields, providing mentorship and activities designed to build confidence and enthusiasm in STEM subjects.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to address gender imbalances in computing, technology and engineering fields, aiming to inspire more young girls to consider future careers in these areas.
During the event, the Year 5 and 6 girls participated in a range of activities including visiting the college’s Student Innovation Research Centre (SIRC) to have a look at the new wind tunnel and boat, and getting creative by designing a ground-breaking device to remove microplastics from the ocean!
They also got hands on building structures using spaghetti and marshmallows, took part in a Photonics and Microelectronics workshop, and finished off the day with a go on the soft-shell drones!
These interactive sessions allowed them to experiment with technology in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Joe Mealy, Teacher for Computing and Edtech at Preston Primary School, found the event to be hugely valuable. He said: “South Devon College is an incredible asset to the local community in enabling our learners the opportunity to access STEM-related careers and opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible to them.
“Over the years, we have been fortunate enough to bring many of our learners to South Devon College to experience what the future holds for them in the world of STEM learning and potential future career paths.”
The visiting students agreed that the day had been a success, with quotes including “It was a really fun day. It was good to be creative. It made me think about which job I want to do in the future” and “I really liked the day because we had lots of options for jobs and I learned about women in STEM. I want to go into photonics because it seems cool, and I like learning about new things. It caught my eye because I’ve never seen anything like it before”.
Joe Mealy continued: “More recently, we’ve introduced pupil leaders in technology (Digital Leaders) in our school and South Devon College has been fantastic in supporting them in their role as leaders in the world of STEM.
“We are very grateful to the outreach work that South Devon College does for the local community in STEM learning and children and staff alike always look forward to our visits there.”
Charlotte Bounsall, Events and Projects Coordinator, Hi-Tech & Digital at South Devon College, organised the event. She said: “The collaboration between South Devon College and Preston Primary School highlights the importance of early engagement in STEM education, breaking down stereotypes, and fostering a culture of inclusion and innovation.
“By giving young girls the opportunity to explore these subjects in a positive and encouraging setting, the initiative hopes to ignite a passion for STEM that could lead to future academic and career aspirations.”
Jen Bevin-Mills concluded: “I worked with the visiting students to provide an insight into the issue of microplastics in the sea, with the students working in groups to design an idea which could help tackle the problem. I was really impressed by the creative thinking, team work and innovation that the girls demonstrated whilst they approached the task.
“At the end of the day some of the students were keen to share that they were interested in pursuing careers in the Engineering and Photonics sectors. It is particularly important as STEM opportunities offer important career options that there is currently a skills shortage within the sector.”
Tracey Dawson, Work Place Coordinator, Engineering, at South Devon College, who assisted at the event, commented: “The event at South Devon College is incredibly important as it highlights the significance of encouraging girls to pursue careers in Engineering.
“By showcasing the achievements and potential of female students in this field, the event not only promotes gender diversity but also inspires the next generation of engineers. It’s a wonderful initiative that underscores the value of inclusivity and the vital role women play in shaping the future of engineering.”
Both the College and the primary school plan to continue their partnership, with more events and mentorship opportunities in the pipeline, ensuring that the momentum of the Girls in STEM initiative continues to grow.
