Hull pupils learn flood resilience at Humber STEM event

Secondary school pupils in Hull enjoyed lessons from Yorkshire Water on flood resilience and preventing sewer blockages during the Humber STEM event at the MKM Stadium. 

Established in 2022, Humber STEM is an annual event that aims to inspire young people and increase their knowledge about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). 

Yorkshire Water and Mott Macdonald Bentley (MMB) colleagues delivered LEGO Education workshops to five groups of year nine students, teaching them about sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and flood mitigation in and around Hull. 

Students participated in the Flooding and SuDS Challenge, where they put their science and engineering skills to the test by programming LEGO robots to deliver SuDS to various locations on a map. 

Students also learned about flood prevention and the Living with Water partnership in Hull and East Riding, which focuses on flood resilience, including natural sustainable drainage solutions. Following the devastating floods of 2007, where 9,500 homes and businesses were impacted and 96 schools were closed, the partnership works with schools and further education providers to build flood awareness, increase flood warning sign up and educate schools and communities abound flood risk in a practical interactive way. 

Anne Reed, social value and education manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Humber STEM is a brilliant opportunity for us to introduce children to the water industry, and hopefully inspire them to learn a little more, or even ignite a new passion.  

“At our LEGO education sessions, we find that the students are passionate about the natural world and want to do what they can to protect it. It’s a very valuable exercise for us to work with schools to influence the wider community.”   

Dan McNiff, teacher at Sirius Academy, said: "The students clearly loved it. They were all absolutely engrossed - it's a really fun task!"