A Winter Olympic athlete visited Renfrewshire primary schools this week as part of their ongoing project to build an outdoor luge.
Luke Farrar spoke to youngsters at six schools who are taking part in a STEM project with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), the Royal Navy, and Team GB athletes to create a new luge starting ramp for athletes to train with in the UK.
Luke showed pupils his luge equipment and talked about what sport is like, his life as an elite athlete, the Beijing track and his experiences of going to the Olympics.
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The six schools – Todholm Primary, St James’ Primary in Renfrew, Langcraigs Primary, Bargarran Primary, Bredilands Primary, and Cochrane Castle Primary – are taking part thanks to the Royal Society’s Partnership Grants scheme.
The project aims to help pupils learn about STEM by completing multiple thought-provoking investigations on the properties of materials needed for the project, how aerodynamics work, and personal fitness.
Pupils took part in virtual and chocolate welding that replicated the process of combining materials to manufacture the luge ramp. The schools will follow up their learning by visiting GCU in June where the luge ramp will be revealed to the Royal Navy and the luge athletes.
Deputy headteacher at Todholm Primary, where Luke visited first, David Rigmand said: “This project has been an incredible opportunity for our learners to collaborate with other schools and STEM experts to build science capital and links to skills for life and work.
“All of the learners involved are very excited to see the luge ramp when it is revealed and have thoroughly enjoyed emulating the scientific investigations taking place at university.”
Dr Patty Munoz-Escalona, project leader at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “I am delighted to provide this opportunity to pupils at such a young age.
“It gives them a chance to be involved in a real-life engineering problem and the opportunity to understand engineering concepts, start developing their meta-skills by providing solutions, expressing their ideas and developing links with university and industry. It’s also a chance to engage MEng students with primary school pupils to inspire and encourage them to pursue a career in engineering in the future.”
The project is expected to be completed by May 2022.
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