Rising to the challenge – how Cool Aeronautics went virtual

Pulling together a captivating challenge to engage students’ imagination

Amidst all the distractions of the pandemic, the team recognised it was important to create a compelling activity that could immerse the 477 school students who registered for the event. Participants were invited to become brave adventurers who needed to use engineering and communication skills to cross a deep gully in the midst of a snowstorm so they could arrive at a sustainability conference and develop a new energy source!

Creating a workable concept to deliver STEM during a pandemic safely

Leonardo’s STEM team decided to use the online video meeting software WebEx to deliver the event remotely. It was important that the children had a clear set of instructions, to guide them through the construction of their own battery powered car and a bridge. Months before the event, the STEM Ambassadors gathered together, armed with tape, string, Blu Tack, straws, a car kit and batteries, and got to work carrying out a practice run of a car and bridge construction to make sure the engineering concepts they were going to share were achievable.

Olivia Gribler said: “Logistically speaking, there was a large challenge in bringing this event onto a digital platform. In previous years, there have been barriers to inclusion, such as funds for transportation and the required number of teaching staff to cover the school requirements. By holding this event online, we have been able to remove almost all of those barriers, which accounts for the increase in participation for this year’s event.”

The team packed up STEM boxes for each school ‘bubble’ with all the materials they would need, along with a prize for the top performers in each bubble. Each school bubble class room was provided with access to a breakout room where a Leonardo STEM Ambassador would be waiting for them, ready to respond to their queries.

STEM Activities Manager Sebastian Watts said: “All of the materials had to be delivered two weeks before the event on the 18 November, as the schools needed to have enough time to check they had everything and quarantine the boxes. A lot of pressure came with the role of Activities Manager, as I had to ensure we produced activities of a consistent quality which were also fun. This encouraged me to plan and add material little by little with the team, until we had a really well presented activities pack that was engaging for the students and helpful for the teachers.”

The adventure challenge day also featured a quiz with Leonardo’s senior leadership team which included Nick Whitney, Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters UK, Sarah Cook, Head of Operations Leonardo Helicopters UK, Paul O’Grady, Head of AW101 Leonardo Helicopters UK, and Alisdair Wood, Chair of RAeS Yeovil Branch. Questions posed by the students included “What’s your one piece of advice to pass on to the up and coming generation?” to which the answer was “Find something you are passionate about, and turn it into a career.”