Inspiring the next generation in STEM at Brooklands Innovation Academy

Wednesday 1st October marked the fourth annual Brooklands Innovation Academy LIVE event, where celebrities, educators and industry experts came together at Brooklands Museum to inspire and support the next generation of scientists and engineers. 

Brooklands Innovation Academy is part of the National Science Summer School programme, co-founded by Professor Brian Cox, Lord Andrew and Well North Enterprises. The academy connects young people aged 11–18 with scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians from leading businesses who are tackling the world’s most difficult challenges. The event aimed to inspire young people and showcase the wide range of technical pathways available to students aspiring to become the next generation of scientists.

This year’s event welcomed over 480 students from local schools and colleges, making it their biggest event yet. The students participated in 28 fun and inspiring workshops, talks and demonstrations led by Professor Brian Cox and Simon Singh, who highlighted the importance of STEM careers and technical pathways. Our motorsport lecturers and students also championed the value of the motor industry, raising aspirations among pupils from our feeder schools while showcasing technical pathways and sustainable career opportunities.

We were also immensely proud of our Science learners, who took part in a panel discussion with Professor Brian Cox. This session gave our students a platform to build confidence, strengthen their critical thinking skills, and engage with some of the most thought-provoking ideas in modern science. A standout moment came from Scarlett, one of our Forensic Science learners, who asked a fascinating question that captured the spirit of the day:

“Is there a point where a fundamental theory of physics or chemistry becomes so complex or mathematically abstract that it becomes practically impossible to verify or falsify through experiment — and how would science progress at that stage?”

We are incredibly grateful to the organisers for hosting such a fantastic event, which gave our learners a brilliant opportunity to showcase their technical and scientific skills that will help shape the future of the STEM industry.