Environmental awareness and sustainability took centre stage as SLB, a global technology company, hosted its second Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day for young students in Cambridgeshire. The event, held on Wednesday, 16 October, welcomed 37 Year 5 and 6 students from Kettlefields Primary School for an immersive learning experience focused on the importance of green energy.
The project day aimed to inspire young learners to think critically about the future of the planet and embrace eco-friendly practices. SLB’s team of experts created five interactive stations where students engaged in hands-on experiments that demonstrated various forms of renewable energy and key sustainability concepts.
Under the guidance of SLB staff, students crafted potato batteries, generated electricity using gravity, and explored kinetic energy with flying saucers. Additional activities included creating self-inflating balloons and conducting measurements to compare the energy consumption of common household appliances.
SLB commented on the success of the day, saying,
“We are delighted to have hosted another successful Cambridge Launchpad event this year. Our dedicated team of volunteers invested significant effort into designing and preparing the science activities for the day. Witnessing the children’s enthusiasm and joy as they engaged in hands-on experiments was incredibly rewarding. It was wonderful to see how curious and eager to learn they were about new energy topics. By sparking their interest in these critical areas, we hope to inspire them to become the future scientists who will drive the shift towards a more sustainable world. Both the SLB scientists and the children had an unforgettable and inspiring day.”
The students’ enthusiasm was evident throughout the day, as they eagerly participated, posed questions, and expressed a keen interest in learning more about renewable energy. One student expressed how “learning about gravity energy made me feel hopeful for humans against climate change”, while another was amazed to discover that a simple potato could power an LED light. Students also gained practical insights into how force affects energy generation, with one noting, “I learned that you need more force to create more energy.” The hands-on nature of the activities sparked curiosity and excitement, as students explored how science and sustainability intersect in everyday life.
David Hawkins, STEM Programme Manager at Cambridge LaunchPad, praised the success of the event, stating,
“Cambridge LaunchPad is committed to providing young people with opportunities to explore STEM careers within their local community. SLB’s participation in our programme is invaluable, offering young people education on sustainable energy, meaningful encounters with STEM professionals, and hands-on experiences they may not otherwise have access to.”
This event underscores SLB’s dedication to fostering education and outreach, encouraging the next generation of scientists and engineers. Through initiatives like the Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day, SLB continues to promote a passion for STEM and environmental sustainability among young learners.
If you think your company could inspire the next generation, please contact our STEM Programme Manager David Hawkins at dhawkins@formthefuture.org.uk or visit our partners page for more information.