The ‘CSconnected: Sparking STEM Futures’ initiative is designed to engage and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators in South Wales, particularly within the rapidly growing compound semiconductor sector.
With a focus on nurturing young talent, this programme aims to create a sustainable pipeline of skilled professionals who will help drive the future of this exciting and essential industry.
Outreach
School Workshop — ‘Exploring Compound Semiconductors: From Big Tech to Tiny Devices’
The Techniquest school workshops aim to engage up to 3,000 primary school pupils, aged 7–11, in innovation and technology, with a specific focus on the semiconductor industry. The initiative will provide a classroom-based workshop, designed to increase understanding of the semiconductor sector and inspire future careers in STEM. Research shows that careers education must begin at primary school age, and this project seeks to plant that early seed!
The workshop will showcase how semiconductors underpin a wide range of technologies and will enable future applications. Pupils will gain a greater understanding of the uses of semiconductors by making content relevant to them — they are found in smartphones and games consoles as well as robotics and AI.
The future will depend on them in the areas of electric cars, renewable energy and secure communications. We want the workshop to increase understanding but to also spark an interest — sow the seed of a career in STEM and the semiconductor industry. Key to achieving this aim and to address the EDI agenda the workshop set will include life size cardboard cut outs of people who work in the semiconductor industry each with an information board about themselves so the pupils can see the diversity in the sector and identify with the people featured.
Key features
- Target: Age group of 7–11-year-olds, engaging 3,000 pupils.
- Content: The workshops will introduce pupils to the basics of semiconductor technology. The content will cover the evolution of technology, Hand-on activities and careers in the semiconductor industry.
- Learning outcomes: Understanding the basics of the semiconductor industry, recognise the importance of semiconductors, explore career opportunities and stimulate interest in STEM.
On-site visits
Theatre Show
Following completion of the outreach programme by the end of July 2025, an in-house semiconductor-focused event could be developed and hosted at Techniquest during the Autumn term. This event would provide a second engagement opportunity for schools that participated in the outreach workshops, reinforcing key messages about the semiconductor sector and related careers.
Key features
- Target: 7–11-year-olds, engaging 900 pupils.
- Content: This event would consist of a brand-new semiconductor focused theatre show, themed busking on the exhibition floor and a ‘meet the engineer’ area.
- Learning outcomes: This will not only reinforce the prior learning from the workshops but also develop curiosity, critical thinking and engage with real-world applications.
After school clubs
CREST Superstar Club (Semiconductor Investigator Club)
The ‘CREST Superstar Club’ is a structured, multi-session programme designed to engage 7–11-year-olds in hands-on scientific investigations related to semiconductors. Delivered as part of the CREST Awards framework, this club will provide young learners with an opportunity to think and behave like scientists and engineers through practical experiments and challenges.
Techniquest will develop and deliver the Semiconductor Investigator Club, which will run both in schools and as after-school clubs. A total of 9 clubs will be delivered from April 2025 onwards, each engaging around 20 pupils per club, resulting in 180 children participating in a high-impact learning experience.
Key features
- Target: 7–11-year-olds, engaging 180 pupils.
- Content: The club will consist of 6-8 one-hour investigations, each designed to increase pupils’ understanding of semiconductors while fostering key STEM skills. This includes hands on experiments, problem solving skills, exploring real-world uses and interactive discussions.
- Learning outcomes: By participating in this project pupils will develop scientific inquiry skills, understand semiconductor science and its applications and have an increased awareness of careers in STEM and the semiconductor industry.