By Peter Placey
In its latest endeavor to foster the importance of STEM with the next generation, Formula 1 has teamed up with the British Council to create a global educational platform.
The newly launched initiative, Learning Sectors, aims to inspire youth to engage in STEM. The year-long program will connect with over 130,000 students aged 7 to 16 across 700 schools in Brazil, India, South Africa and the UK. Each school will collaborate with partner schools from another participating country, enabling students to work together on Formula 1-inspired STEM projects throughout the academic term. In Brazil, schools will participate in separate coding activities designed to build essential science and technology skills.
The Learning Sectors program has been crafted to integrate smoothly into daily classroom curricula, allowing all students to participate. The British Council will support program implementation and maximize impact through its global network. Formula 1 plans to involve its engineers and key professionals to give students firsthand insights into STEM subjects and the world of motorsports.
A special event was held in Brazil before the FORMULA 1 LENOVO GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2024 to kick off the initiative. Local students, educators and government officials enjoyed an exclusive look behind the scenes, touring the circuit and meeting drivers and other sports professionals. They were also given special tours of the Paddock and Pit Lane.
Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, expressed the importance of education in shaping the sport: “The growth of Formula 1 is rooted in the incredible minds of talented engineers, scientists and mechanics, which have elevated the sport to the forefront of technology and innovation. We are proud to launch the Learning Sectors program alongside the British Council to reach hundreds of thousands of children across Brazil, India, South Africa and the UK. Our goal is to bring Formula 1 into classrooms and inspire a love for STEM in the next generation.”
Learning Sectors is part of Formula 1’s commitment to inspiring the next generation and creating a positive legacy. Other initiatives include a partnership with Mission 44, a charity founded by Lewis Hamilton, which advocates for increased diversity and inclusion within motorsports. The partnership seeks to create transformative opportunities for young people facing social challenges through education, empowerment and employment.
The Formula 1 Engineering Scholarship, introduced in 2021, covers full tuition and living expenses for underrepresented students pursuing engineering degrees. The scholarship has supported 30 students and aims to help 50 by 2025. Formula 1 has also engaged more than 400 UK secondary school students through STEM Challenge Days, where professionals across the sport join together to spark students’ interest in STEM fields by demonstrating their practical applications in motorsports.
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