GKN Automotive Innovation Centre is helping spark interest in engineering

As the UK centre for Research and Development, GKN Automotive Innovation Centre relies on highly skilled individuals to come up with innovative solutions to further electric drive technology.

We therefore take inspiring and providing development opportunities for the engineers of the future very seriously, which is one of the reasons why we support Formula Student.This is also why our Skills Development Programme also includes STEM engagement, in recognition that inspiration needs to come early.

We were particularly busy this Autumn, taking part in the Explorazone - an event to give families the opportunity to engage with scientific innovation through hands-on activities - and hosting a visit by Science Oxford, a local organisation working closely with schools to inspire young people into STEM.

For both events we focused on the physics behind electromagnetic motors, explaining Flemming’s left hand rules through homopolar, Beakman’s and Westminster motors. We had over 40 visitors to the Explorazone, with an average age of 8.5 years and a nearly equal split of girls and boys. The feedback was extremely positive and the dedication of our Year in Industry students recognised. Participants appreciated the simplicity of the experiment and yet how challenging it was to make it work. Some just liked the opportunity to work with tools. These experiments certainly captured the young people’s imagination, even when not quite working out. They also brought to life the value of tenacity and perseverance.

This week we visited a local primary school and gave them a preview of our new virtual tour, which we will bring to Silverstone in July. We talked to them about engineering and had to answer some challenging questions, including one about what would happen if things blew up! We never thought we would have to explain our approach to Health and Safety to such a young audience!