Why We Empower Non-Scientists

Why We Empower Non-Scientists: How We Make STEM Accessible

Meet Georgia, our Technical Specialist, as she talks about why it is vital to empower both our team and the wider community through STEM.

‍British Science Week is a celebration of learning – highlighting the importance of science for shaping the world around us and encouraging engagement across every level. The theme for 2025 is ‘Change and Adapt’, making it an excellent time to discuss the ways we aspire to change perceptions of science, takeaway some of the mystery and fear, and encourage our future innovators to follow a career within STEM.

PI-KEM and British Science Week

At PI-KEM, science is the foundation of our business, therefore we understand the importance of knowledge, and the power of curiosity. Science innovation relies on this inquisitiveness and creativity to drive the research that enables the discoveries that shape our world. As a company, we believe these traits should be nurtured and encouraged, which is why my role as Technical Specialist goes beyond product expertise. A key aspect of my role is to be a STEM champion, creating opportunities for education within our community and within our organisation. 

Being a STEM champion is what initially attracted me to this role. It’s about making science accessible and exciting for all. Building relationships with our local schools is key, inspiring our future workforce, encouraging our next generation of scientists, and nurturing a passion for learning within young people. However, more uniquely I think, we encourage our PI-KEM team to be life-long learners, sharing knowledge about the products and innovations we support through product and technology spotlights as well as providing opportunities for personal learning through external events.

In celebration of this week, I’d like to share the ways we encourage continuous learning at PI-KEM, some of the outreach work we’ve conducted in schools, and my personal passion for STEM.

Empowering Our Team Through STEM

At PI-KEM, fostering STEM literacy extends across our whole team. This strengthens collaboration across departments, improves communication, and enhances the value of the products and services we provide.

As part of our team development initiatives, I lead product and technology spotlights to engage my colleagues with our work and provide them with learning opportunities. I make use of analogies and real-world examples to help make abstract concepts more accessible.

Meet my Friend Ron:

I’d like to introduce you to my friend Ron. He’s a pretty important guy, but he is really not a morning person. He struggles to wake up early, and has a massive attachment to his bed. Luckily, caffeine comes to the rescue. To start his day right and to perform his job, he needs a double shot of espresso. The thing is, Ron is really picky about his morning coffee; he absolutely needs to chug the whole thing in one go for it to get him out of bed. If he must switch between two cups, he’ll fall back asleep before he finishes. Fortunately, he keeps a large mug next to his bed, making sure he can drink it all at once and get moving.

Ron’s dad, Ron Sr., is really, really not a morning person. Ron Sr. finds getting up even harder than his son and needs three shots of espresso to get out of bed. He’s also incredibly picky and needs a triple espresso in a single extra-large mug; even using two of his son’s double shot mugs won’t be enough to energise him.

Now, here’s the secret: Ron’s full name is Electron, and he lives in a photovoltaic solar cell. His very important job is to leave his house – his atom – to move or flow around an external circuit to generate electricity. To do this, Ron needs exactly the right amount of energy all in one go, in a single package; the energy cannot be added up from multiple packages. His dad, Ron Sr., lives in a different place within the cell, but shares the same job. He needs a different amount of energy, but he also needs to gain it in one individual parcel. The coffee shot is representative of the energy that is found in a photon of sunlight. Electrons must receive a specific amount of energy from a single photon to escape their atom and generate a current.

The above story was shared with PI-KEM's non-technical colleagues, enabling them to understand more about the applications we support, and it received positive feedback. With the help of Ron and his father, we explored the photovoltaic effect, solar cells, and the history of the technology in a straight forward, relatable way.

Using analogies is a powerful tool for engaging a wide range of audiences in STEM topics. It makes abstract or technical ideas more accessible, connecting new information to familiar experiences. By breaking down barriers of complexity, analogies encourage inclusivity, enable conversations and inspire a broader appreciation for STEM fields.

Investing in STEM learning for all our colleagues allows them to understand and appreciate our customer’s goals and achievements and encourages a culture of continuous learning.

Having the opportunity to handle products, as well as participate in hands-on activities, is a great way to embed this learning and encourage people to want to know more. Passing around materials or pieces of equipment during presentations is an excellent way to relate the concepts being discussed to the products that we sell.

Similarly, our customers work can be related back to real world applications by putting some products into action: using our coin cell consumables and pre-cut electrode foils, each of our team constructed a dummy coin cell so they could experience how the equipment works and where each of the products fitted into the process.

We have also used this activity with students, educators and equally when we welcomed Sarah Edwards, Tamworth's MP, and Peter Kyle, the now Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology to PI-KEM last year.

When our whole team have a strong grasp of the science underlying our products, they are better equipped to answer customer inquiries and ensure they get the best solution for the outcomes they are working to achieve. This is especially important when supporting international customers, where clear communication is essential.

These activities also promote critical thinking and problem-solving within the workplace, leading to greater operational efficiency and allowing us to deliver on-time, and right first-time.

STEM in Schools

Think back to a memorable school lesson. Can you recall a time when the content, activity or the presenter really captured your interest and encouraged you to ask questions? For many of us, these involved an external visitor giving a talk, demonstrating a process or providing a hands-on activity. These moments tend to be the most memorable and impactful, leaving lasting impressions on students.

Personally, I remember: A zoo brought in reptiles for us to learn about animal adaptations, and I held a gecko called Noodle; A doctor of history, who’d written books and presented TV shows, gave a lecture on the Tudors; and one of the best, a university chemistry student demonstrating chemical reactions through a methane bubble bursting into flames on my hand. These were all instrumental in fuelling my passion for STEM outreach.

During university, I participated in an astronomy outreach program, engaging with children aged 9-11. The way they lit up with excitement about space (particularly when we introduced the inflatable planetarium!) left a lasting impression. Every week they showed incredible enthusiasm, engaging with every task, asking and answering questions, and wanting to participate. The unique perspectives children have when they’re engaged with something they find exciting is brilliant! It was this experience that cemented my belief in the importance of STEM outreach work.

Many young people thrive on the novelty of an external visitor, providing a level of instant engagement to a topic that their regular lessons don’t provide. These events also introduce concepts beyond the standard curriculum, allow us to be role models and show science is for everyone. They enable students to ‘get curious’, for no other reason than sheer enjoyment.

One of the biggest challenges in STEM is making our world feel accessible and relevant. Youngsters can feel disconnected from its real-world applications and have preconceptions on their ability based on where they live, the experiences they have, and their access to education. By introducing exciting demonstrations, hands-on activities, and industry insights, we can help bridge this gap and break down these misconceptions.

At PI-KEM, we’re committed to STEM outreach through events like careers fairs, school presentations, mock interviews and providing work experience. These events give students the chance to handle product samples, use equipment or complete marketing and accountancy tasks. This helps them understand the breadth of STEM innovation and how it shapes their everyday lives, as well as showcasing the diverse career paths in STEM, encouraging young people from all backgrounds to see themselves in these roles.

Showcasing underrepresented groups in STEM, such as women, minorities and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, is crucial, and key to changing perceptions. As a woman attending these events, I want to empower young females to explore STEM opportunities in the way that is most appropriate to them.

Finally, STEM outreach fosters essential life skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, all valuable skills for any career path. Encouraging students to embrace challenges, and to always ask questions about the world around them, is imperative for inspiring the next generation of innovators and pioneers.

STEM Championship

Science and technology has shaped almost every aspect of our lives over the course of human history - from the discovery of fire and inventing the wheel, to mastering electricity and conquering travel over land, sea and air. Most of us are surrounded by technology - like the devices we use daily to communicate and access immense amounts of information- without giving much thought to the innovators that make them possible. We now live in the most technologically advanced society in human history, and this progress shows no sign of slowing down. It is important to acknowledge not just how far humanity has come from being nomadic hunter-gatherers, but all the brilliant individual minds it took to get here.

At PI-KEM, our commitment to STEM outreach and education is a direct reflection of our drive for continuous innovation. By inspiring young minds through school initiatives, we allow them to see themselves as innovators and entrepreneurs, perhaps future researchers, business managers, finance experts or science communicators. Meanwhile, our internal efforts to foster STEM engagement ensures that everyone has the tools to contribute to a driven and forward-thinking organisation.

As we celebrate British Science Week, we invite others to join us in championing STEM. Let’s continue to break down barriers, spark curiosity, and empower individuals to contribute to a future where science and technology continue to transform lives for the better.