Middlesex University hosts STEM festival
Hundreds of Barnet students explored interactive stands and activities on March 11.
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From the archive. This story was written up on 29 July 2026 from reporting first published on 26 March 2026, which is the date shown above. We took up the back catalogue of the local titles we read when this site launched, so the events are older than the page.
Middlesex University hosted a British Science Week STEM festival on March 11, drawing hundreds of students from schools across Barnet. The event featured 28 interactive stands and activities designed to make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics engaging for young people.
Interactive Experiences and Notable Attendees
Attendees experienced highlights such as a virtual reality rollercoaster developed by university staff and graduates, and a robot named Baxter capable of taking selfies. Other activities included demonstrations of industrial robots, a space habitat simulation, and a live comet experiment. Students also had the opportunity to use EEG headsets. Barnet councillors Alison Moore and Caroline Stock were present at the festival.
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Councillor Alison Moore, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Barnet Council, commented on the university's role in the local community, stating, "One of the joys of having a uni that draws a lot of its young people from the local area is that it changes lives — that's really special." Councillor Caroline Stock added, "It's really important for people to understand that at the end of science study, there's a career with very wide-ranging options. It's brilliant to show that these things are happening in Middlesex, and that it's not something far off in the future, it's here today."
Planetary scientist and science communicator Dr Sheila Kanani MBE delivered a lecture focusing on the solar system and her own career path. Professor Klaus Dodds, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Middlesex University, remarked, "STEM festival embodies the commitment of our staff and students to engage and enthuse in science and technology."
Student Perspective and External Involvement
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Students from local schools, including Bishop Douglass School in Finchley, attended the event. Sara Dbouk, a Year 12 student, shared her view: "STEM Festival gives you lots of options to take in. It's the range of disciplines you see. You might see a maths and physics display and think it’s really interesting. It prompts you to go out after the event and research topics." The festival also included participation from external organisations such as Festo Didactic, Underwoods, and Extend Robotics, alongside British Weightlifting and Martin Johansen from the Danish national golf team.
Questions this report answers
+What did the students do at the STEM festival?
Students explored 28 interactive stands and activities designed to make science, technology, engineering, and mathematics engaging. They experienced a virtual reality rollercoaster, interacted with a robot named Baxter, tried EEG headsets, and participated in live experiments like a comet demonstration.
+Who attended the festival besides the students?
Barnet councillors Alison Moore and Caroline Stock were present, along with planetary scientist Dr Sheila Kanani MBE, who delivered a lecture on the solar system. External organisations like Festo Didactic and Extend Robotics also participated in the event.
+What did the councillors say about the festival's importance?
Councillor Alison Moore highlighted how the university changes lives by drawing local young people, while Councillor Caroline Stock emphasised that science study leads to diverse career options. Both stressed the value of showing science as an immediate, not distant, opportunity.
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