Over 180 secondary school students experienced how science and technology impacts the food we grow at an event funded by Growing Kent & Medway on Friday 4th July.
The event, held at Canterbury Christ Church University and coordinated by the STEM Hub, was part of an initiative aimed at inspiring a new generation of young people to consider a STEM-related career in food and farming.
Hands-on workshops throughout the day highlighted the vast array of exciting careers and opportunities in the agri-tech sector in Kent and Medway. A keynote talk by APS Produce showed the science involved in growing 91 million tomatoes each year, from high-tech climate control data management to the growing role of robotics.
Practical sessions allowed students to explore diverse careers, including,
- Artificial intelligence and data scientists monitoring crops for diseases
- Technologists using 3D food printers to make tasty snacks
- Geneticists breeding tastier or more drought-tolerant strawberries
Students aged between 11-13 years from 11 different schools around Kent and Medway attended the free event.
Teacher Sharon Dawson, Herne Bay High School, “The event has opened the students’ eyes to things they may not have known existed. They would never have known there were robots being used to test if tomatoes were ripe! They may really like computing, programming and robotics, and would never have previously linked them to how we produce sustainable food.
“I think many of them associate growing tomatoes with their granddad’s shed, but they don’t understand the engineering technology involved in growing!”
Professor Mohamed Abdel-Maguid, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education, Student Growth and Global Engagement at Canterbury Christ Church University, said: “We are proud to work with Growing Kent & Medway, Niab, and our university and business partners to make this happen. Together, we aimed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and help young people see new possibilities for themselves.
