Manufacturing Machinery World November 2019

THE NEXT GENERATION
THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE INSPIRED BY
SCIENCE THANKS TO PIONEERING ENGINEERING FIRM
MORE than 7,500 young people are being
inspired by science over the next two weeks
thanks to a forward-thinking engineering
company.
Children are being treated to the London
Science Museum’s “Out Of This World” show
taking place in Cumbria in an action-packed
fortnight of events.
The shows, which started on September 23,
are organised by the REACT Foundation which
was created by REACT Engineering in 2004, with
the objective of raising the aspirations of young
people and inspiring the next generation of
scientists and engineers.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year,
The REACT Foundation now offers bursaries to
Year 11 and sixth form students who are going
on to study STEM subjects at college or
university.
The Foundation held its first science show
back in 2006 when TV science celebrity Jonny
Ball - father of radio star Zoe Ball - presented a
science show to 120 lucky primary
schoolchildren.
After delighted teachers and children asked if
it could be repeated, the annual REACT
Foundation Science and Engineering Days have
grown to such an extent that they now take place
over a fully-booked fortnight across west
Cumbria with more than 84,000 students taking
part since the first show.
Irene McMillan, of REACT Engineering, said:
“The children absolutely love the shows. They
get booked up straight away by the schools. They
are an integral part of the school calendar now.
“Expect bangs, wallops, rocket launches,
plenty of entertainment and excitement,” said
Irene.
“We did have one negative comment one
year….we were told that the kids got too
excited!”
As well as going into secondary schools
across the area the main primary event takes
place over two days at Lakes College, Lillyhall,
Workington on September 24 and 25 with more
than 2,000 primary schoolchildren attending.
This year they will have a special visit to St
Patrick’s School Cleator Moor where Montreal
School students will join them for an explosive
show.
A four-strong team - Ronan Bullock, Anais
Radiere, Ted Hill and Kate Hunter - from the
Science Museum in London, lead the shows and
a series of special workshops during the
fortnight.
Secondary school students from Whitehaven
Academy, Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton,
and Netherhall School in Maryport will all take
part in a special Water Transport challenge to try
to transport water without using buckets.
The Reactioneers, a group of 16 primary
schoolchildren who meet at REACT’s offices at
Cleator Moor on Tuesday evenings in term times
in sessions manned by volunteers from REACT’s
own team, will enjoy their own Slime Time
Students enjoying the REACT Foundation Science and Engineering Days in previous years.
workshop on September 24. Children with
special needs who attend Mayfield School at
Whitehaven will also enjoy their own Slime Time
workshop with the Science Museum team on
October 1.
The final show of this year’s run takes place
at Millom School on October 4, when children
from Millom School’s feeder primaries will join
their own students at the action packed shows.
The REACT Foundation science shows are
sponsored by E.ON and the University of
Cumbria, with the latter also now spreading the
initiative to schools in Carlisle.
Pete Woolaghan, chair of the REACT
Foundation, said: “The science shows are the
best two weeks of the year - concentrated energy
and excitement from start to finish.
“It’s wonderful to have the University of
Cumbria on board again this year alongside our
longstanding supporters E.ON who run the
Robin Rigg windfarm in the Solway. They have
been tremendous supporters over the years.
“This year’s shows from the Science Museum
have a space related theme to mark the 50th
anniversary of the moon landing and build on
our Space Day event earlier in the year to
celebrate REACT’s 25th anniversary. The shows
are new so I’m really looking forward to the
experience.”
Phil Redfern, managing director of REACT,
said: “It’s wonderful to see the reaction of the
young people to these shows. We hope many are
inspired and excited to find out more about
science.
“Whether when they leave school or
university, they end up travelling the globe or
staying closer to home we hope it opens their
eyes to some of the amazing careers they can
have with science, some with world-leading
innovative businesses right here on their
doorstep.
“It is very rewarding to see the impact and
difference the shows can make to young people’s
attitudes and thinking towards science and
engineering.
“We are passionate about giving young
people the very best opportunities, and are
committed to continuing to build our own
company around the ideas and skills that young
people bring to our business, as well as
supporting initiatives which help the
community.
“It’s amazing, and hugely satisfying to
witness how the charity has grown from 15 years
ago when the REACT Foundation was first set
up to mark the company’s 10th anniversary, and
how now, with REACT Engineering marking its
25th anniversary this year, the science shows
continue to develop and inspire a whole new
generation.
“Credit goes to all the volunteers at REACT,
the fantastic team from the Science Museum in
London, and to the event sponsors for making
the shows bigger and better every year.”
Phil Redfern, managing director of REACT
Engineering, pictured with members of the
REACT team at the firm’s Cleator Moor
offices.
6 Manufacturing Machinery World, November 2019