Girls aged 7 to 14 were invited to Jersey’s STEMFest over the weekend, hosted by RBS International in association with Girlguiding.
Hearing from local experts and taking part in a range of activities aimed to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
The event involved local volunteers hosting interactive activities to build the girls’ confidence, interest and motivation in STEM. The volunteers represented a wide range of roles across various sectors, including finance, technology, engineering, marine conservation, and meteorology.
From exploring the local ecosystem with Jersey Marine Conservation and Jersey National Trust, to experiencing immersive technology with virtual reality headsets and learning how to code, the girls gained a wide insight into STEM industries.
The various projects allowed the girls to work with experts in their fields, teaching them new skills including problem-solving, information gathering and how to approach challenges from different perspectives.
The RBS International team hopes to increase the number of girls who go on to study related subjects in higher education and boost gender equality in STEM jobs.
Oliver Holbourn, Chief Executive Officer, RBS International, said: “Women are underrepresented in our industry and across the wider STEM sector and to change this we need inspire girls as early as possible.
“We are honoured to host STEMFest for a third time and are grateful to all the volunteers who are helping more girls gain relevant experience and meet diverse role models as they continue their education and look ahead to career options.”
Helen Barette, Island Commissioner, Girlguiding Jersey, said: “Girlguiding Jersey are thrilled to have been invited to a STEMFest event by RBS International. Our aim at Girlguiding is to empower girls to discover the best in themselves through fun, friendship, challenge and adventure and this is an amazing opportunity to encourage our Brownies and Guides to explore STEM subjects and meet some female role models.
“I would like to thank all the RBS International staff for offering this opportunity to our members, and inspiring them through a fun morning of activities.”
Carla Jardim from Jersey Cyber Security Centre volunteered on the day and said: “It’s vital that girls have the support and inspiration to follow their natural passion for problem-following, exploring and asking questions – all of these traits are central to a career in STEM.”
