Over the next five years, the fusion sector will require an estimated 2,200 additional professionals. UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is dedicated to expanding the fusion community and as part of this we connect with schools to help inspire and encourage the next generation.
Throughout February, UKAEA held two outreach events targeting young people from secondary schools local to our Culham Campus.
The first event – Engineering Futures: Skills Day spanned three days and included a visit to First Light Fusion’s facility. Whilst at Culham Campus the 12 students had two days filled with interactive activities that included robotics programming, electrical skills and health physics workshops. In addition to the activities the students toured JET and our Materials Research Facility (MRF).
The second was a one day event held at UKAEA’s Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE) facility on Culham Campus. The Women in Engineering event welcomed 30 young women for a day of hands-on workshops that provided the students with experience in programming, soldering and engineering design. The day allowed the students to ask questions about careers in STEM and learn about opportunities at UKAEA, such as our apprenticeship and graduate schemes.
Alongside the hands-on workshops and tours, UKAEA’s early careers team held a CV and interview skills workshop at both events. This was designed to help students identify and develop key skills for building their CV, cover letters and provide insight to what UKAEA’s apprentice assessment day looks like.
One student at the Women in Engineering event, said:
“It was exciting to visit the different locations across site and very engaging to learn through the different activities!”
Another said:
“The trip was a brilliant experience and has done lots to increase my interest in engineering and robotics”
Women in Engineering in the Electronics Workshop
