FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCTOBER 2021
Two pupils from Year 12 at RYE ST ANTONY SCHOOL in Oxford have taken part in a national summit designed to explore ways engineers can help achieve net zero. The Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Schools COP Summit saw over 50 pupils from across the UK come together to explore how engineers are at the heart of addressing the climate crisis.
Students heard from inspirational engineers at the forefront of reducing the effects of climate change and then held discussions hosted by broadcaster Fayon Dixon and former BBC presenter Susan Bookbinder that mirrored those being held at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. All attendees were given the opportunity to focus on areas of interest, such as protecting wildlife from the worst effects of climate change or motivating more young people to be more eco-conscious. They brainstormed ideas for how engineering can reduce the carbon footprint of the UK and how they can make an impact on reaching net zero themselves. The Schools COP Summit is part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, which highlights to young people that engineering is a creative, problem solving, exciting career that improves the world around us and is playing an active part in achieving net zero.
Ms Manjula Pillay-Sayers, Head of Science from Rye St Antony said:
“Our school is extremely proud of our representatives, SASHA SAUSMAN and OLIVE WATT. The two future engineers and problem solvers shared inclusive and innovative ideas with the rest of the team at the Schools COP Summit about how their future careers could impact healing our planet. They explored changes to farming methods, advances in Material Science to engineer materials with lower carbon footprints, calling on the government to make changes to reform their funding priorities and change how we teach STEM in schools. They shared ideas about how different industries could work together towards net zero especially focussing on the intersections between Art, Politics and STEM subjects. This opportunity and platform for young minds to share their ideas really inspired me. I learnt that we ‘must not wait for the future to act’ let us all act now.
Dr Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, which organises Tomorrow’s Engineers Week said:
“We really appreciated students from RYE ST ANTONY SCHOOL sharing their thoughts with us at the Schools COP Summit as part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week. Achieving net zero is so important for the next generation and hearing directly from young people about how they see engineering behind the solutions was heartening. Engineers will be central to finding solutions to the climate emergency we are all facing. We need more engineers to bring their perspectives and skills together to help us work out how to generate affordable and sustainable energy, predict and address extreme weather events and prepare our cities. for the future. The Schools COP Summit will be available for all schools to watch as part of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week on Monday 8 November and help them to host their own discussions with students. A nationwide poll of schools will then reveal the most popular recommendations on how to achieve net zero.”
For more information on how to get involved in Tomorrow’s Engineers Week visit: www.teweek.org.uk
