Drax Foundation and Glasgow Science Centre have worked together to develop the bespoke programmes that will support schoolchildren to build their STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills and inspire them to consider careers in hydropower.
The hydropower sector in Scotland is growing, with plans being developed to expand pumped storage hydro stations including Drax’s 440 MW Cruachan plant, and it is set to remain a long-term source for careers in renewable energy.
“We are proud to support Glasgow Science Centre and the work they are doing to develop STEM skills among young Scottish people. The learning lab and workshop are pioneering hydropower education programmes that will help students develop their STEM knowledge and hopefully get excited and interested in a career in hydropower,” said Sarah Cameron, community manager for Scotland at Drax Group. “It’s important to us to help children develop the skills, particularly in STEM, that can help solve challenges like climate change and develop and deploy technologies which can further decarbonize our energy system.”
The programme is run through Glasgow Science Centre’s Learning Lab and lasts four to six weeks. It uses case studies of Drax’s Scottish assets to teach children how different forms of hydropower operate, including pumped hydro and run-of-river plants. It also includes a visit to Glasgow Science Centre or a visit to their school from the science centre’s On Tour team.
Students in secondary schools can participate through STEM Futures Work Readiness Workshops. These workshops are for fifth and sixth year pupils and are delivered at Glasgow Science Centre. In the training, young people work together to explore the careers available in hydropower in Scotland, as well as the skills they would need to develop to access them.
The programmes are fully funded by Drax and there are resources available for 50 primary schools to participate in the Learning Labs, as well as 20 workshops for up to 400 secondary school pupils. Schools can apply for the programmes, which will launch in early 2024.
The launch of the programmes follow on from Drax’s corporate foundation, Drax Foundation’s, recent funding of EDI bursaries with EngineeringUK that will help support underrepresented young people into engineering careers.
Drax also offers free educational tours for schools of its Cruachan site in Argyll and Bute. These tours offer insights into what a career in engineering involves, how pumped storage hydro works and how Cruachan supports meeting Net Zero targets.
Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero-carbon, lower cost energy future and has an ambition to be carbon-negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology. Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. It has pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland.
