Motorsport museum starts new STEM outreach project

A museum has started a new programme to encourage more young people to explore careers in science and technology through motorsport.

Silverstone Museum in Northamptonshire says its new STEM Pitstop programme will travel to schools across the UK, offering free hands on learning sessions designed to introduce students to science, technology, engineering and maths.

The sessions see students handle racing equipment items including Formula 1 wheels, exhausts, and racing suits.

Rob Jaina, the museum's director of curation and learning, said: "There is still a shortage of young people going into the science and tech-based areas.

"What we aim to do is use motorsport as that hook to show young people what there is in the sport. There's loads of opportunities for young people."

It is estimated the motorsport industry supports about 40,000 jobs and contributes around £16bn to the UK economy.

Students visiting the museum at the launch event said the experience helped them understand motorsport engineering.

Luke, a Year 9 pupil, said: "I've thought about [working in motorsport.] It would be really interesting and travelling the world and working for teams like Ferrari and Mercedes.

"It would be a really cool job. Before coming here, I didn't know much [about motorsport] but now I've learned loads."

Ben, another student, added: "It's a pleasing experience to see inside the actual cars and how they manufacture the actual space in it."

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