Great science and engineering begin with curiosity – and on Monday, 9th March, more than 100 primary school children from across Portsmouth discovered just how exciting science can be.
Portsmouth-based engineering company Delta Smoke Control partnered with education charity STEMunity and the National Education Union (Portsmouth branch) to deliver the “100 Future Scientists for Portsmouth 100” event during British Science Week. The initiative, designed by STEMunity’s science and education experts, gave 107 Key Stage 2 pupils from high-EDI (equity, diversity and inclusion) schools the chance to experience science in a truly memorable way.
A Day of Discovery
- The young scientists took part in a range of practical experiments, including building circuits using fruit and Limelight kits, exploring osteo-archaeology, and touring the historic Mary Rose Museum. They also helped launch the Big Plastic Count, a national citizen science project that will continue back in their classrooms.
- STEMunity, a Portsmouth-based education charity, works to make science engaging, creative, and accessible for every young person. Their mission is to help children feel confident, curious, and capable in science – and to show that the world of STEM truly belongs to them.
- Each child received a take-home experiment pack, designed to spark family conversations and extend learning beyond the school day.
Laura Watford, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of STEMunity, said “At STEMunity, we see every day how much potential there is in Portsmouth’s young people – but too often, access to meaningful science experiences depends on luck or postcode. Partnering with Delta Smoke Control and the National Education Union for ‘100 Future Scientists for Portsmouth 100’ meant we could bring truly exciting, hands-on science directly to pupils who might not otherwise get these opportunities. When children meet real engineers and scientists from their own city, they start to picture themselves in those roles. Today, I watched that confidence grow in real time.”
Why Delta Smoke Control Got Involved
For Delta Smoke Control, supporting this initiative was about investing in both people and place.
- Supporting local families – Many of Delta’s employees live in and around Portsmouth, with children in local schools. Backing STEMunity brought high-quality science experiences directly into those classrooms.
- Removing barriers – By focusing on high-EDI schools, the initiative ensures opportunities reach children who might otherwise miss out.
- Building the future workforce – From primary school curiosity to future apprenticeships and degrees, today’s science experiences can spark tomorrow’s engineering careers.
Steven Mortimer, Managing Director of Delta Smoke Control (part of Delta Ventilation Group), said “As a company built on engineering expertise and safety-critical systems, we want young people in Portsmouth to see that there are exciting, meaningful careers in STEM right on their doorstep. Seeing the joy and curiosity in those classrooms yesterday reminded us why this work matters. We’re proud to have played a small part in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and problem-solvers for our city.”
Community in Action
The event was supported by local STEM Ambassadors and volunteers who guided the children through experiments and shared their own career experiences. Organisers described the day as “nothing short of joyful,” with classrooms full of curiosity and collaboration.
Georgios Georgiou from Revolution Plastics launched the Big Plastic Count at the event, adding a citizen science element that will see pupils continue their learning by tracking plastic waste in their schools and communities.