Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and Engineering UTC North Lincolnshire have launched a brand-new facility at the college, that will inspire the next generation of STEM leaders in the region.
Holly Mumby-Croft, MP for Scunthorpe, cut the ribbon at the recent opening of the facility, with pupils from local schools, and representatives from North Lincolnshire Council, Greater Lincolnshire LEP and industry touring the centre.
Generation Net Zero was created with ORE Catapult funding to ensure school children from Northern Lincolnshire can access high quality STEM teaching in their formative years. Crucially, the facility will also provide a space for businesses across the Humber and Lincolnshire to inspire young people as they think about their future careers.
Ben George, general manager of the Humber region at ORE Catapult, said: “ORE Catapult works closely with schools, colleges, and universities throughout the UK to promote STEM subjects and activities, ensuring that all pupils can be inspired by the opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
“Generation Net Zero is a perfect example of that positive impact in action as it will provide excellent STEM learning opportunities for the engineers of the future, inspiring them to consider how we build a better, more sustainable world and protect the planet.”
Anesta McCullagh, principal at Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire, said: “We are excited to launch this partnership project with ORE Catapult which brings together primary and secondary education with industry in one hub. Businesses from across the Humber and Lincolnshire will now be able to deliver inspirational workshops alongside our Student STEM Leaders.
“Thanks to this sponsorship from ORE Catapult, the students using the facility will learn about renewables, carbon capture and decarbonisation. As our future leaders, it is vitally important that we develop their creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills now to enable them to change the future for everybody.”
The name ‘Generation Net Zero’ was created by students at the technical college to reflect that school pupils using the facility now and in the near future will be the leaders driving technology, innovation and science in 2050, when our Net Zero targets are to be met.