Lord to speak at science and engineering event

A Lord and former government minister is to speak of the importance of science and engineering at a University event.

Lord Jim Knight, will give a talk as part of a University of Wolverhampton showcase aimed at highlighting the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects in higher education.

The event will be held on Thursday, October 3, at Wednesfield High School, Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, from 9am. It has been organised by the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering.

At 9.15am Lord Knight - who was Labour’s longest-serving Schools Minister in the previous Labour Government and also served as Rural Affairs Minister and Employment Minister - will give a keynote speech on the national perspective around education reform and reinventing England’s schools.

He will also be endorsing the STEPS at Work programme, which has been organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

The project sets up one- or two-day placements for STEM teachers to work with leading businesses and see the role of STEM skills first-hand in modern industry – knowledge they can pass on to students.

Throughout the morning, there will also be a series of talks and presentations, which will include speeches by Matthew Harrison of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Paul Hampton, of the University of Wolverhampton’s Faculty of Science and Engineering and Craig Chapman of Carillion, Wolverhampton’s leading construction and support services company.

Paul Hampton, Principal Lecturer and Head of Business Engagement and Employability in the School of Technology at the University of Wolverhampton said: “This event is a superb opportunity to bring home the importance of trying to foster relationships between young people and industry. That is what the projects being showcased here are all about.

“It will allow people to see what the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering has to offer and we are honored to have Lord Knight speaking at the event.”

To book a place at the event, call 01902 518436 or email p.mullett@wlv.ac.uk.

ENDS

For more information please contact Chris Jones in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736