IET’s festive Santa Loves STEM campaign returns to encourage children and families to get involved with engineering and technology 

The Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) annual Santa Loves STEM campaign is back for another year, with a festive hub full of family friendly engineering and technology based activities.  

‘Santa’s STEM workshop’, as it is known, is designed to inspire the next generation and highlight the exciting career possibilities provided by Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Hosted on the IET’s Education website, the online hub is bursting with budget-friendly ideas for families, schools or local groups to do with children as the festive period approaches. With something to suit all abilities, four to 13-year-olds are invited to join Santa and his elves for experiments, crafts and bakes which provide a fun take on STEM inspired learning.   

David Lakin, IET Head of Education, Safeguarding & Education Policy, said:

“We are delighted to be bringing back our popular IET Santa Loves STEM campaign for 2022. This is such an important set of fun, hands on resources for encouraging children’s passions for STEM. As anyone who follows the work of the IET will be aware, there is a huge shortfall in the numbers of young people taking up careers in engineering and technology. By providing these fun filled activities that get families in the festive spirit and teach children about the amazing professions available within the sector, we can capture their imaginations from a young age and help tackle the problem.”  

As part of Santa’s STEM workshop, children can have a go at creating winter window decorations, experimenting with snow sparkly slime, engineering their own Christmas lights or even baking Rudolph thumbprint cookies. For those who have a keen interest in the environment and its inhabitants, there are also a range of fun activities to get kids thinking about our planet.  

To find out more about Santa Loves STEM, please visit theiet.org/santa.