Whitehaven Science Fair will take place next month.
The free event will take place in the town’s St Nicholas Gardens on June 12 and 13.
Now in its fifth year, is organised by Whitehaven Town Council and is sponsored and supported by Sellafield Ltd and Nuclear Waste Services.
The first day will feature a theatre-style science show for local primary school pupils.
Alongside the show, a variety of exhibits showcasing cutting-edge robotics and locally developed technology, provided by Sellafield, NWS, and other associated companies, will be open to the public.
On the second day, Year 9 students from local secondary schools will attend a careers fair where they can explore work experience opportunities, gain valuable advice, and network with representatives from local industries.
The aim of the event is to spark curiosity and interest in science and engineering, particularly among young people, inspiring the next generation to consider careers in these fields.
By fostering curiosity, the event aims to develop a skilled talent pipeline to sustain and advance employers like Sellafield.
It also seeks to increase public understanding of the important work carried out in these industries.
A spokesman from Whitehaven Town Council said: “We’re excited to host our fifth annual Whitehaven Science Fair this June. Last year’s success inspired us to expand with an extra marquee and a new careers-focused day.
“Our goal is two-fold: to encourage visits to the town centre and to foster a love for science and innovation within our community.
“The support from Sellafield and NWS has been fantastic, and we’re grateful for their continued partnership in making this event such a success. We can’t wait to see the enthusiasm and energy it will bring to the town.”
Chris Ballard, senior technical leader at Sellafield Ltd, said: “There are many misconceptions about our work at Sellafield. This event allows us to be transparent, offering local residents deeper insights into our day-to-day operations.
“For young people, it’s a chance to experience the type of work we do and inspire them to consider future career paths in science and engineering.
“We face a challenge in West Cumbria, as many skilled individuals leave for university and often don’t return. This event aims to show children what exciting opportunities are available in the area and provide them with a vision for a bright future here.”
Mike Brophy, head of social impact at Nuclear Waste Services, said: “NWS is collaborating with companies such as Graham, Arup, Jacobs and WSP to inspire young people about the careers that their talents could lead them in to, and the careers fair is a great opportunity to learn more about the great variety of roles on offer.
“The nuclear sector has ambitious goals, with major programmes that span generations. That means we need the right skills and the right people not just now, but throughout a nuclear lifetime, which could be upwards of 100 years.
“That’s why our apprenticeships’ programmes, group graduate schemes and our training programmes are essential. We want to bring young people into the sector, train them and enable them to be part of the workforce.”
