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Community fund enables 'life-changing' exhibit at Royal Norfolk Show
The STEMM Village at the Royal Norfolk Show will return next week – one of the region's most inspiring platforms for engaging young people in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.
With support from Dudgeon Community Fund, from the Equinor-operated Offshore Wind Farm, the exhibition highlights the opportunities that lie ahead in the East of England's rapidly evolving green energy and agri-tech sectors.
The village is curated by Dr Samantha Fox, director of the Youth STEMM Award, a national programme that supports young people aged 11-19 through extracurricular STEMM activities.
The exhibition brings together industry, education, research and healthcare organisations to explore trail-blazing science and cutting-edge technology.
Dr Samantha Fox, director of the Youth STEMM Award (Image: Samantha Fox) 'Exhibits link to our theme this year – 'STEMM in the Food Chain: From Field to Future' – showing how STEMM underpins everything from farming and food to energy and health,' Samantha explained.
Some 14,500 educational tickets have been distributed free to schools and educational groups so that they can attend the show.
The village aims to support the next generation by creating opportunities and building confidence among young people by offering direct access to emerging research, training and career pathways.
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At this year's STEMM Village, visitors will encounter more than 50 interactive exhibits from academia, industry and the public sector designed to spark curiosity.
Highlights include virtual reality simulations that allow users to stand atop a wind turbine and soil and DNA analysis to determine the best crops.
From bioscience and AI in sustainable agriculture to clean energy, the range of topics reflects both local research strengths and the needs of a future low-carbon economy.
Samantha said there will be something to 'entertain, educate and inspire' all ages – and the young people who volunteer to help put on the event also benefit hugely from the experience.
'It raises their confidence to be on a stand and communicate,' she said. 'And during the day, I see such a change come over them – it's kind of life changing.'
The Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, which organises the Royal Norfolk Show, and its sibling charity the Food and Farming Discovery Trust received financial support from Dudgeon Community fund to make this year's STEMM Village possible.
Established by energy company Equinor in connection with Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm, the fund is managed by Norfolk Community Foundation and has invested close to £1 million in local projects since its inception a decade ago.
Adam Baker, communications and insight manager at Norfolk Community Foundation (Image: Norfolk Community Foundation) Communications and insight manager Adam Baker said the foundation is a 'bridge between those that want to make a difference and those who need help'.
The fund is designed to help create an inclusive, level playing field where anyone can pursue a career in STEMM including females, as well as disabled and neurodiverse people.
'We want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive,' he said. 'We want everyone to have a bright future.'
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Adam said the East of England is undergoing a transformation, with major investments in offshore wind, solar and agri-tech. As energy infrastructure expands, so too does the demand for skilled workers – engineers, technicians, environmental scientists, project managers and many others.
'Our county is shifting,' Adam said. 'The traditional jobs that people have had in the past are energy are massively important fields emerging locally.
'It's really key that we set young people on this journey early, so they can understand where they might fit into this future. They will have the opportunity to engage with all of these different things at the STEMM Village, all in one place.'
Adam said that Dudgeon Community Fund ensures continued reinvestment in the region – with positive outcomes for schools, skills and careers, as well as futureproofing our local economy.
'For something to operate at this scale in the county – and with such a distinct focus on young people's futures – is one of a kind,' Adam said. 'The people that have benefited from this funding in the past will be the ones that will be leading on these projects going forward.
'It's a virtuous cycle that's transforming lives.'
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(Image: Newsquest)
This article is part of the EADT's Clean & Green campaign, which aims to promote our region as the biggest in the UK and Europe for all forms of renewable energy.
