Routes in to STEM event

To promote EDT’s Routes into STEM scheme which gives students invaluable and tangible experience for a career path in science, technology, engineering and maths after GCSEs, Bsria was recently welcomed a group of year 9 and 10 students from schools in Reading to its test facilities. 

EDT is a nationwide educational charity with over 30 years’ experience, delivering over 40,000 STE(A)M experiences each year, connecting young people, educators, partners and employers across the UK. The Routes into STEM is an Industrial Cadets accredited scheme which allows young people to demonstrate experience and progression, empowering them to succeed in future study and make informed career choices.

As part of EDT’s programme – students spend a 'taster”' day of STEM-related activities at a college, university and in a company to find inspiration for the type of career suited to their “passions and strengths”.

Colin Pearson, head of building performance, Building Thermography Technical Expert, Sustainable Construction Group, Bsria, kicked off the event with an introduction to thermography, where the students got stuck-in with a hands-on experiment involving infrared cameras and Coca-Cola cans filled with varying temperatures of water. The cans had stickers on the side and students had to gauge the temperatures of the different parts of each can. The heat would be reflected by said stickers.

Pearson explained with buildings and air tightness – faults can and do creep in. Cold outside air can affect inside air temperatures too – especially in winter.

The group then moved to Bsria’s UKAS-accredited test house laboratories. A further six building services engineering experiments followed with students tackling measuring temperature in the workshops, again using thermal-imaging infrared cameras. These tests involved: a radiator, fire extinguisher, boiler, light, a chair in a cold room and a human hand! 

Pearson said: “We were really impressed with the enthusiasm and capability of the group. It tells us that the young engineering talent is out there and it is up to the industry and organisations like Bsria to attract them into one of the many fulfilling careers we can offer. 

"That’s 24 young people (and their parents) that didn’t know what building services engineering was and hadn’t heard of Bsria, but now have! Hopefully, we’ll see one or two of them in the future, be it with us or one of our members.