Nusrat Ghani, MP for Wealden and Minister of State for Industry & Investment Security at the Department for Business, Energy an Industrial Strategy delivered a speech at Rolls-Royce Schools Prize for Science & Technology Awards.
Nusrat's speech [CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY]
Thank you Warren for the introduction and for hosting me today.
On September 12th 1992, Mae Jemison the first African American woman in space, blasted off from earth on the shuttle Endeavor.
This truly remarkable woman was a mission specialist, having trained as both a doctor and an engineer.
But space wasn’t her final destination.... when she resigned from NASA, one for her many pursuits was to inspire children into the sciences.
She famously said,
“We have the opportunity to create the future... and decide what it’s like.”
Isn’t that a brilliant thought?
And it’s one that seems so apt today.
All of you teachers should be so proud of yourselves...
...not only for being finalists for this prestigious award...
... but as you inspire your students to be creative and to solve problems through science and technology... you are shaping our future.
Because, now perhaps more than ever our future depends on our ability to navigate the 21st century.
We need solutions to a myriad of problems... like climate change and loss of biodiversity..
...and we need to be able to complete as technologies like quantum, AI and AR propel the world into a new technological age.
The government wants the UK to be a science superpower, with research and development at the heart of our economy.
We believe that companies like Rolls-Royce, with their innovative thinking... as well as our many life scientists, agri-engineers and robotics and photonics specialists are our secret weapon is we get the country growing again.
But we haven’t got the slightest chance of our plan succeeding if we don’t have a strong talent pipeline...
... and that begins at school.
With inspiring teachers who can sow a love of science and technology... engineering and maths...
Teachers who sweep aside outdated ideas about STEM lessons being too hard – or just for boys.
Then, after school, we need more brilliant apprenticeship programmes like the ones offered here at Rolls-Royce,
I was impressed by some of Rolls-Royce’s numbers.
Rolls-Royce has offered apprenticeships for over 100 years, and an outreach ambition to reach 25 million young people by 2030.
This is remarkable and frankly...if Rolls-Royce can’t inspire young people about engineering and STEM...I’m not sure who can!
Rolls-Royce has fantastic ambitions and is fostering the green innovation in a range of sectors including in aerospace.
Its working on hydrogen propulsion as well as electric and hybrid-electric technologies that will all help deliver our commitment to reach net zero by 2050.
And I want to thank you for hosting this brilliant event.
There are some incredible projects that have links to the technologies of the future..
...From using big data within the context of DNA analysis of daffodils, to 3D printing.
...And from showing how plastics can be recycled in a sustainable way to demonstrating how, pallets and onion boxes can be converted into raised vegetable beds and hanging gardens.
I believe that if government, business and civil society all work together - we can lay the foundations for an economy that is fit for the future.
By pushing boundaries, believing in the impossible and designing our own future... we can make the UK a country that does your pupils proud.
Thank you.
