RAF LOSSIEMOUTH TECHNOLOGY AMBASSADORS PLANT THE SEEDS OF STEM.

Servicemen from RAF Lossiemouth were taking RAF technology to children at two Lossiemouth primary schools last week as part of the Station’s support to the nationwide STEM initiative.

The RAF Lossiemouth personnel were on hand to explain radar waves, hydraulics, command of air space, and the engineering of a jet ejector seat to the children of Hythehill Primary School and St Gerardine’s Primary School during several sessions across the week. The children were encouraged to get ‘hands on’ with the equipment the Servicemen had brought with them and took full advantage of the opportunity.

Squadron Leader Richie Wenman is the Senior Air Traffic Control Officer at RAF Lossiemouth; he

gave a talk to the children about air space, he said:

“It was my pleasure to speak to the pupils of Hythehill and St Gerardine’s Primary Schools on the subject of space as part of their STEM week. The children were very engaged and asked me a lot of questions, particularly on the subject of black holes and Saturn’s rings.

“I had a great time and hopefully I inspired one of them to be a scientist, engineer or mathematician in the future; who knows, maybe even an astronaut!”

Rachel Wolford co-ordinates the STEM Club at Hythehill Primary School, she said:

“The presentations by the guys from RAF Lossiemouth were fantastic, they had a great rapport with the children, explained everything, and were very entertaining - the children loved the talks and asked lots of questions.

“The children’s experiences over the week were amazing, and hopefully we have inspired some new engineers for the future!”

As well as taking the Royal Air Force technology to local primary schools, RAF Lossiemouth was also taking part in Moray Science Festival at the weekend. The Typhoon ejector seat display by the Survival Equipment Fitters was popular with parents and children eager to find out about the amount of engineering that goes in to making the potentially life saving piece of equipment.

RAF Lossiemouth has several STEM ambassadors as part of the Station’s participation in the nationwide STEM initiative – a programme encouraging children to explore science, technology, engineering and maths subjects. The ambassadors utilise the technology available on a Typhoon Main Operating Base to encourage children to consider science, technology, engineering and maths based careers both in wider society as well as the Royal Air Force.