STEM Presentation for Schools

Jet Engines, Ice Cream, and HIV Medicine: The Materials Science Career I didn't Expect

Inspire your students with a real view of STEM careers - surprising, diverse and full of possibility.

Join me for an interactive exploration of my 25+ year career as a Materials Scientist working in the aerospace, food, and pharmaceuticals industries. I take students on an interactive journey through the unexpected places science can lead.

The aim is simple: to show students that STEM isn’t a narrow path for a select few, it is a world open to anyone with curiosity.

Talk Overview & Objectives

This session explores how one scientific discipline can unlock opportunities across completely different industries. Through real examples and guided discussion, students see the breadth of STEM careers and recognise that there’s no single “type” of scientist.

Students will learn:

How materials science is used in jet engines, ice cream, medicine and more
How scientific principles apply to wildly different real-world challenges
The range of career routes available in modern STEM
Why background, personality or identity never disqualify someone from becoming a scientist.

Interactive Format:

The talk begins with an ice-breaker (“Two Truths and a Lie”) before moving into a fast-paced session supported by multiple-choice questions that reveal how surprising science can be.

Example questions include:

• "Is it cheating in the Olympics if only some countries can afford the special swimsuits?"

• "How much of the ice cream you eat is just (free) air?"

• "Can you actually earn money in STEM?"

These prompts help gauge the room, spark debate, and keep students engaged throughout.

My Experience:

I draw on real work from across my career, including:

• Developing advanced ceramics for Rolls-Royce jet engines

• Re-engineering ice cream texture and launching new products in Mexico

• Supporting life-saving HIV pharmaceutical treatments

• More than two decades of problem-solving across global industries

This mix of stories shows students that scientific careers can take you anywhere.

Q&A Session

The session finishes with time for student questions about:

• STEM Careers

• Routes into Industry

• What working as a scientist is actually like

I do have a few prompts on hand, but student curiosity always leads the discussion.

For Educators:

If you’d like certain messages emphasised, e.g. career pathways, diversity in STEM, apprenticeships vs university routes, transferable skills, I’m happy to tailor the content to your students’ needs.

Siobhan van der Pool

Science Coordinator, Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls

“I did a feedback form later in the week: 1) 50% of students were extremely satisfied with the content of the session, and the other 50% were satisfied; 2) 42% of students could apply their prior knowledge to understand your content; and 3) 30% gained new knowledge from your talk. There were no points for improvement at all. The students all really enjoyed it especially the sixth formers.”

Joshua Oakley

Year 12 Achievement Leader, Heanor Gate Spencer Academy

“The pacing was perfect. The variation of topics was helpful, and the students were engaged throughout as a result. Your way of presenting felt natural and interesting. Your session was very much appreciated, and I think a big take away that I will be pushing is the array of careers one can access through an education in STEM subjects.”

If you’d like to check availability or discuss details, please get in touch using the contact form below. I respond quickly and can adapt the talk for assemblies, careers days, science weeks, or smaller classroom groups.

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Omeigo Technical Consulting Ltd

Reg. No. 12996401

167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor
London W1W 5PF

Paul.Trusty@Omeigotech.co.uk

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