Snake scales and spiders inspire STEM learning

AN academy has uncovered the formula for scientific success as the school hosted its own Big Bang STEM event, made possible through a £650 bursary awarded as part of the Big Bang at School Blueprint programme.

- 

A corn snake named Cornflake, an Australian green tree frog, a tarantula and a giant cockroach became unlikely teachers as pupils uncovered the surprising ways in which biological structures inform human invention.

The Valley Leadership Academy in Stacksteads held the event designed for those aged 11-14.

The programme created and funded by EngineeringUK is dedicated to helping pupils to explore the exciting world of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The funding allows schools to host dynamic, hands-on experiences tailored to their pupils, all with the aim of sparking curiosity, raising aspirations and showcasing the diverse range of STEM careers.

Pupils immersed themselves in a day of workshops that blended discovery, creativity and real-world application.

Zoolab’s innovative biomimicry session invited pupils to explore how engineers often turn to nature for inspiration.

From wind turbine blade design inspired by humpback whale fins to Olympic swimsuits created with snake scales in mind, the workshop revealed how nature often holds the blueprint for technological innovation.