Pupils learned how to make lava lamps, extracted DNA from a strawberry, generated clean energy and mastered coding to unlock a box of chocolates as part of the annual Furness STEM Show this week.

The show was organised by Furness Education & Skills Partnership (FESP) and held to showcase skills and learning in science, technology, engineering and maths as part of British Science Week.

Around 26 organisations ranging from global companies to engineering associations supported the event at Furness College’s Channelside campus.

They included Oxley, Bender, GSK, Siemens Energy, Vattenfall, Orsted, BAE Systems and Furness College alongside Barrow and District Association of Engineers and a host of other businesses.

The visitors tried their hand at activities on each of the stands as well as being entertained by Professor Pumpernickel in an action-packed show to introduce children to the world of chemistry.

They enjoyed a simple chemistry challenge to make sherbert from the Royal Society of Chemistry, a battling bugs game about the immune system by Lancaster University, robot arm automation and clean energy from Siemens and a game to show how to generate power through momentum by Furness College’s technical engineering department.

Neil Tippins, one of the organisers, said: “It is fantastic to see these young people so enthralled in the experiments and activities and we hope they discover that science can fun and lead to a rewarding career.”

Around 1,500 pupils attended from schools including Holy Family, Pennington, Cambridge Primary, Newbarns, St Pius, South Walney Juniors, Greengate Juniors, Croftlands, George Romney, Victoria Academy, Broughton School, Askam, Burlington, Low Furness, Sacred Heart, St James’, Ormsgill, Barrow Island, Vickerstown, St Bernard’s, Chetwynde, Roose, Parkside GGI and St Bernard’s.

The event is sponsored by BAE Systems, Furness College, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and local Rotary clubs (Barrow Rotary, Furness Rotary, Furness Peninsula Rotary and Ulverston Rotary).

Janet Garner, Principal of BAE Systems’ Submarines Academy for Skills and Knowledge, said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Furness STEM Show, promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths learning in our local area. We wish the event every success and hope it will inspire young people to equip themselves for the range of careers and opportunities available to them in Furness”.

Kathryn Kittley, Marketing and Communications Manager Furness College comments, “Furness College is honoured to once again host the inspirational Furness STEM show at our world-class Channelside campus. It is a fantastic showcase of science and engineering and a chance for school pupils from across the area to experience innovation in technology in a hands-on and fun way”.