Hands-on learning for budding scientists in East Cheshire

School pupils from across East Cheshire are being given the chance to experience life in the science lab through a series of hands-on workshops run by volunteers from global pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

At the workshops, which run once every half term, pupils put aside pen and paper in order to conduct experiments, learn basic lab techniques and work in teams to solve scientific puzzles.

Around 40 pupils from Black Firs Primary School, Smallwood CE Primary School, Quinta Primary School, Astbury St Mary’s Primary School, Woodcocks’ Well CE Primary School, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School and Scholar Green Primary School come together for the workshops which are run by chemists and biologists from AstraZeneca’s Macclesfield site.

Phil Critchlow, senior teacher and science co-ordinator at Black Firs Primary School, said: “AstraZeneca has some of the best scientists in the country, so it’s fantastic that our pupils have access to their expertise.

“The team delivering the workshops are passionate about science and want to pass on their knowledge to young people to nurture would-be scientists of the future. Their enthusiasm for the subject is infectious and creates an inspiring learning environment for our pupils.”

The club is run by Astra Zeneca’s business relationship manager Dave Ainscough, research scientist Clare Sefton, associate principal scientist Matthew Skinner and business support manager Alison Joyce, who all volunteer through the national STEM Ambassador scheme run by STEMNET. The organisation joins professionals in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industries with school pupils, to encourage them to enjoy STEM subjects and learn about relevant career opportunities. The East Cheshire workshops have provided inspiration for other workshop models run by other AstraZeneca STEM Ambassadors.

Dave, who has been volunteering through STEMNET for over eight years, said: “Our workshops in East Cheshire are part of AstraZeneca’s considerable investment in supporting science education throughout the UK.

“By working with school pupils in this way we hope to inspire budding scientists to consider a career within the industry and sustain the UK’s reputation for scientific excellence.”

AstraZeneca has supported the national government-backed STEM Ambassador programme since 2003 and has around 100 employees registered as STEM Ambassadors across the North West.

For more information on AstraZeneca’s community support programmes, please visit: www.astrazeneca.co.uk/community_support.

For more information about STEMNET, visit www.stemnet.org.uk.