Arkwright Engineering Scholarship Awarded to Rising STEM Star

Once again, a Farnborough Hill student has been awarded the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, one of the UK's most prestigious scholarships for young engineers.

Lower Sixth student, Maria, was awarded the scholarship earlier this year and will receive sponsorship from The Michael Uren Foundation. A passionate advocate for STEM, Maria is currently studying A level Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Chemistry. She is not only dedicated to her own studies but actively involved in encouraging other pupils to pursue STEM.  

Through the scholarship programme, Maria will receive a comprehensive support package including mentoring, networking events and ‘connect days’ all hosted by leading engineering companies and universities. The scholarship also provides access to valuable online resources and a financial reward to enhance her educational journey. 

Read on to learn about Maria’s experiences in STEM both in and out of school, her exciting plans to launch a new STEM Formula 1-inspired Racing Club, and her thoughts on her esteemed scholarship. 

What first sparked your interest in engineering or technical design? 

My interest in Materials Science and Engineering first began in Year 9 when I was inspired by a presentation on nanoscale materials by Professor Mary Ryan at Imperial College's Stemettes London Festival. With curiosity, I then researched further into the subject of materials engineering and I read a captivating book, Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik. I also discussed career paths with two experienced and interesting Material Scientists during my summer work experience at Renishaw plc. 

I believe that engineering is the perfect blend of my favourite subjects; Maths, Physics, Design Technology and Chemistry. My passion was further developed through actively participating in multiple STEM-related school Co-Curricular clubs. In these settings I have really developed a love for engineering by using my creativity and problem-solving skills to effectively design and develop projects in collaboration with other teammates. 

How did you hear about the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, and what motivated you to apply? 

I first heard about the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship in Year 8 when another Farnborough Hill Sixth Form student had been awarded one. The scholarship was also strongly promoted during the Smallpeice Trust engineering course that I attended at the University of Bath last summer. 

What do you envision yourself doing after you finish school? 

I'm exploring undergraduate degrees in Materials Science and Engineering at top UK universities, including Imperial College London, Loughborough University, the University of Birmingham, and the University of Manchester. I intend to continue my studies to the highest level, aiming for a Masters and a PhD. Ultimately, I aspire to join a dynamic, entrepreneurial company, leveraging strong engineering capabilities to pioneer the use of exotic and composite materials in new technologies. 

What advice would you give to other students who are interested in pursuing a career in a STEM field? 

If you're someone who loves being hands-on, getting creative and solving problems, I'd strongly suggest you gain as much experience as possible through different STEM-related opportunities. Applying for work experience starting from Year 10 is a great way to explore your interests. Many companies offer one-week placements during the summer holidays! I really enjoyed my time at both Renishaw plc and Buro Happold Ltd, where I got to discover more about different engineering disciplines 

Besides your academic work, what co-curricular activities do you participate in at school? How have these activities helped you develop skills? 

My engagement with STEM extends into school clubs. In Year 9, I took part in the EEP Robotics Challenge, for which our team was tasked with designing and building a speed robot. This was an intensive project that really improved my engineering, leadership and teamwork skills. The experience was topped off by our team winning the Regional competition at Bournemouth University and then reaching the National finals at Birmingham NEC. 

Building on this hands-on experience, I joined our school’s Greenpower electric car team. I was involved in every stage of the car's creation and raced at respected venues like Goodwood Motor Circuit, Castle Combe, and Dunsfold Park. Some key considerations were the aerodynamics, mass of the car and effective use of batteries. I experimented with the gearing to generate maximum wheel rotation. 

What STEM clubs does the school currently offer that pupils can try? 

The school has a vibrant Co-Curricular scene, offering a variety of popular STEM clubs including Junior Science Club, TeenTech, Greenpower, Coding Club, Clinical Skills Club and KenKen Puzzle Club.  

As the recipient of the School's Sixth Form DT scholarship also, I would like to introduce another hands-on club that inspires more girls to get involved in the field. I propose STEM Racing; a hands-on Formula 1-inspired international competition. Pupils will learn to design and optimise race cars, understand aerodynamic principles, develop practical engineering skills including teamwork and problem-solving abilities and test reaction time at competitions to see how our cars can be the most reliable, lightest and fastest on track.