Parker introduces the fascinating world of filtration to young audiences

Parker Hannifin, a global leader in motion and control technologies, helped to inspire and educate young people at a major STEM event last week. 

Teams from Parker Bioscience Filtration’s Birtley site in County Durham, UK and Parker’s Gas Separation and Filtration Division in Gateshead, UK, exhibited at STEMFest Sunderland from October 8 to October 10.

Coordinated by the North East STEM Hub and held at The Beacon Of Light venue in Sunderland, the event aimed to encourage and inspire young people from local schools in the STEM subjects. Three thousand young people aged 9 to 13 attended the event, which featured exhibitors from sectors including space, sports, e-sports, technology, energy and manufacturing.

Parker’s STEM ambassadors ran a variety of activities, including manifold building challenges and microbiology demonstrations, throughout the three-day event.

They also showed how Parker’s filtration technology is used every day across the biopharmaceutical, food and beverage, and process sectors, to help students understand the ‘real world’ applications of filters.

In addition, the Parker team provided an insight into careers in science and engineering, by drawing on their own experiences, and discussed their roles with both students and teachers from local schools.

It was the third time that Parker Bioscience Filtration had exhibited at STEMFest, having attended the event in 2022 and 2023.

Alison Rishworth, division HR manager at Parker Bioscience Filtration, said: “We’re very proud to have contributed to STEMFest Sunderland this month. Parker is firmly committed to STEM education and engaging with local communities, and our attendance over the past three years demonstrates this.

“Through exhibiting at STEMFest and hosting school visits at our sites, we’re raising awareness of the exciting career opportunities available within science and engineering, as well as showing how our solutions are helping to make the world a better place.”

Richard Purdy, project engineer and STEM ambassador at Parker Bioscience Filtration, added: “Once again, we were thrilled to have participated in STEMFest. Our team of STEM ambassadors spoke to hundreds of young people over the three days, answering their questions and engaging them in fun demonstrations and hands-on activities.”

“It was fantastic to have representatives of Parker’s Gas Separation and Filtration Division with us this year, and we greatly enjoyed working together to share our knowledge at STEMFest.”

Dawn Ross, STEM Hub liaison coordinator, said: “Our STEMFest event aims to engage young students with local industry, offering them a glimpse of the diverse job opportunities right on their doorstep. We hope this inspires them to make informed choices when selecting their GCSE options. The event also strives to break down barriers and encourage more girls to explore STEM pathways. We are thankful to the companies who dedicate their time and effort over the three-day event to help us inspire as many children as possible.”