6 | NEWS
Parents must encourage pre-teens to love science and maths Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sectors are struggling to attract school leavers and the industries are seeking solutions to their ongoing skill gaps. During research by MathWorks, STEM professionals were asked whether students are being targeted too late to develop a love of STEM subjects? The response was affirmative; half of respondents believe students need to be encouraged towards these sectors much younger than is conventional: at primary school. When asked to consider their own experiences; 40% said they were inspired to love the subjects by their families and 19% knew they wanted to follow a STEM profession by the time they were 10 years old; 46% had made the decision by 16. Questions then turned to who should do the encouraging. While, typically, this is expected to be the responsibility of the education system, a third of those surveyed claim that school encouragement wasn’t important in their decision to enter into their chosen occupation. And, despite half saying that the teaching of STEM related subjects has improved since they were in school, 38% argue schools aren’t producing people with the skills that society needs. Most respondents agreed the emphasis for turning out future STEM professionals shouldn’t be placed on educators alone and that families and the industry should take on a greater responsibility. Of those questioned, 60% fostered their love of STEM outside of the classroom, having enjoyed extra-curricular activities like the Science Museum with their family. In terms of what the STEM industry could do, nearly two-thirds (63%) said employers should be hosting school visits – while 56% also believe they should be funding projects at schools.
Electrical Review | December 2016
Manufacturing Technologies Association appoints new committee chair and board member The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) has appointed a new chair for its Exhibition Committee, which oversees the organisation of MACH, a UK manufacturing technologies event. Chris Pockett, head of communications at global engineering company Renishaw, a committee member for eight years, was appointed chair of the Exhibition Committee due to his extensive knowledge and experience of international trade shows and event management. The new position also sees Pockett join the Board of the MTA where he will contribute his additional knowledge of communications and international marketing. The MTA is a trade association that represents the UK’s engineering-based manufacturing sector including companies involved in machine tools, cutting tools, metrology and CAD/CAM software. It is also the organiser of
the biennial MACH exhibition manufacturing technologies event, which is being held from April 9-13, 2018, at the NEC in Birmingham. The Exhibition Committee consists of MTA staff and industry representatives from exhibiting member companies of the association and is responsible for overseeing decisions concerning the exhibition. Pockett brings a wealth of experience of global exhibitions from his role as head of communications at Renishaw. He was involved with Renishaw’s first stand in China in 1993 and has organised and taken part in trade shows across all continents. He has been an MTA Exhibition Committee member since 2008, serving the association through a number of MACH events. As part of his new role, Pockett will be responsible for overseeing MACH 2018, the first event to be located in the NEC’s newer Atrium halls.