In an event led by the School’s STEM Ambassadors, students from The Judd School, Tonbridge School, Eton College, The Folkestone School for Girls, Cranleigh School and The John Wallis Church of England Academy among others joined Benenden in enjoying a range of activities celebrating the joy of STEM study.
The event began with a careers fair in the Jat Atrium, where representatives from Alzheimer’s Research UK, InvestIN, Medic Master and more spoke to students about a broad range of potential STEM pathways. Posters produced by students on their own STEM interests, projects and investigations were meanwhile displayed in the Centenary Hall.
Attendees then gathered in the Hall to hear a welcoming address from Headmistress Rachel Bailey, alongside Lead STEM Ambassadors Isolde, Beatrice and Annalise.
In the event’s first keynote lecture, guests then enjoyed a fascinating talk on preparing for the careers of the future in the age of AI from former Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mrs Wordsmith, Sofia Fenichell.
A first carousel of student-led presentations then included talks spanning Multiple Sclerosis, MRI technology, mycelium as a material for home insulation and aerodynamics, among many other things.
In the second keynote lecture of the day, a representative from the National Physical Laboratory explored waves across the whole Electromagnetic Spectrum, with demonstrations including the effects of microwaves on crisp packets and eggs and an aural reading of the radioactivity of table salt.
Student presentations on everything from hive minds to air pollution, from autism to X-rays followed in the second carousel, before a final talk was given by Dr Wes Hinsley, a researcher at Imperial College, London, demonstrated the use of computer modelling in scientific research, from plankton to pandemics.
The event, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended, closed with some final thoughts from Ms Bailey a prizegiving ceremony.
The presentation that won first prize for Academic Excellence was by Eton College on Investigating the Effect of Glucose Metabolism on Fluorescence of GFP-Modified Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.
The poster that won first prize for Visual Impact meanwhile went to Tonbridge School, for a piece entitled Structural Insights of MeCP2 Using Alphafold – CpG Binding and Effect of Function by Phosphorylation.
An unplanned special award was also given to a student from Tonbridge School for a presentation on Electrolysis in Lego, recognising the real-world impact and forward-thinking behind his research.
