David Hodgson, Lead for Education at the Darlington campus for Cummins, shares his thoughts on engineering and STEM education:
Q: What advice would you give to someone starting in engineering?
David Hodgson: Be positive. Ask questions. Don’t be put off by what other people may say — their experiences and journeys are their own. Really challenge yourself to take on a role that you believe is exciting and that you would like to do in the future.
Q: What do you do and why do you do it?
David Hodgson: I’m the Lead for Education at the Darlington campus. My aim is to provide opportunities for local schoolchildren, the next generation, to experience a wide range of activities and initiatives based around STEM. We do this through career talks, site visits, and inspiring activities designed to engage them in STEM and really promote their problem-solving skills and creativity.
Q: How can we make STEM education more appealing to young students?
David Hodgson: By opening students’ eyes to the immense variety of roles available in the STEM sector and ensuring we’re breaking down any gender stereotypes. We place a focus on making sure all opportunities are equal. As Cummins, we push on the gender stereotype side of things because we still encounter these biases when talking to children. We remain focused on breaking this down.
Q: Why does it matter in light of the energy transition?
David Hodgson: Inspiring the next generation is vital to continuing the global journey we’re on. Everyone can have a huge impact, and engaging children early to spark their interest in exciting new technologies is key.
Cummins READY™, our comprehensive STEM-focused education strategy, aims to support at least one million learners and workers in communities where our employees live and work by the year 2030. Conoce más detalles.
