Discover Science Saturday Club for Girls

DEVISING new electronic products or exploring plants - inside and out -  isn't how most teenage girls spend their Saturday mornings.

Tesni Lloyd, left, a Ffion Elin Flynn, right, from Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle.But those are just some of the things that a group of Year 9 pupils got up to as part of Bangor University's Discover Science Saturday Club for Girls.

The popular course, run by the University in association with Careers Wales, was heavily over-subscribed this year, with 25 girls from 9 schools across Gwynedd, Môn and Conwy eventually chosen to attend.

During the six week programme, the 14-year-olds spent their Saturdays finding out more about science, engineering and technology in an informative and fun environment.

The workshops held at the University covered a range of topics - all aimed at encouraging the girls to study STEM subjects in the future. Amongst the workshops were: Electronics Everywhere (School of Electronic Engineering); Exploring plants inside & out (School of Biological Sciences); Shells:  beautiful jewellery or amazing animals? (School of Ocean Sciences); A Wild Life Crime Who-dunnit? (School of Biological Sciences); and It’s never a bore on the rocky shore! (School of Ocean Sciences).

Efa Gwen Evans, from Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle, Penygroes.The programme culminated with a site visit to the Magnox site at Wylfa, arranged by Careers Wales. As well as a tour of the power station organised by Magnox Ltd, the girls took part in team-building activities and met with female engineers to hear about their career paths and experiences.

“We’re very pleased to have been able to offer these workshops for the third year running,” said Carys Roberts, Head of Student Recruitment at Bangor University.

“The fact that the course was so heavily oversubscribed this year shows that Bangor University’s Discover Science Saturday Club is seen by pupils, schools and parents as a worthwhile and enjoyable educational experience for those lucky enough to take part.

- from left, Stephanie Griffith and Lucy Kelly from Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, Amlwch with Megan Pritchard and Caitlin Lamb, from Ysgol Brynrefail, Llanrug and Group Mentor, Ffion Morris during their visit to Magnox Ltd site, Wylfa.“The girls took part in a range of activities and experiences- all aimed at showing them the range of courses and careers that exist within science. Hopefully the girls are all enthused and motivated by what they’ve done on the Discover Science programme - and keen to continue studying science in the future.”

 Nerys Bourne, Team Manager with Careers Wales, said: “Demand for skilled workers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), both locally and globally is increasing. There is a general shortage of young people pursuing science related qualifications after A Level, and girls especially are under-represented in science related careers. There is a huge variety of exciting career paths open to people with STEM based skills and the Discovery programme encourages girls to explore some of these ideas.”

Publication date: 23 April 2013