Middlesex University hosts STEM festival

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

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.