From repairing canals to moving water around the country or conserving wildlife, much of our work is only possible thanks to the science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) skills of our team.
Nowrujee Ali (left) is bringing our STEM skills from canals into London schools
That’s why we do so much to support the next generation of engineers, hydrologists, ecologists and environmental scientists, they truly are the future of our canals. In February 2024, Nowrujee Ali was appointed to engage with schools and STEM students in London and show them how we apply science to the everyday task of caring for canals.
She’s already making a big impact, engaging with 3,008 young people so far, though six partnerships with three schools and three further education providers. Other local schools are also keen to sign up.
The STEM programme currently sees young people visiting four key canal sites in Tottenham, Stratford Olympic Park, Docklands and Brent Reservoir. Nowrujee also delivers Canal & River Trust STEM assemblies, careers fairs, and bespoke workshops; this included a series of STEM art workshops aboard our floating barge, Jena for Black History Month.
For Nowrujee, who worked as a secondary and sixth form teacher for 11 years, it’s important that this programme is a collaboration with schools, and that it gives students opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have had: “By providing partnerships with schools, we are able to tailor our programme and respond to gaps in extra-curriculum provisions. As budgets have become tighter, the free STEM outreach we provide to young people is in more demand and is much appreciated.”
Key to Nowrujee’s programme is helping students to meet experts in their fields, to show what a career in STEM looks like in practice. For this she involves engineers, scientists, ecologists and hydrologists from the Trust, as well as conservationists from the Welsh Harp Conservation Group and the British Trust for Ornithology, to give some real-life context to the importance of STEM subjects.
Nowrujee is endlessly grateful to the staff who give their time to take part in these sessions. “None of this would have been possible without the enthusiasm and support of my colleagues,” she says.
STEM and ART workshops aboard Jena, our floating barge, moored here in Paddington Basin
At a time when the country is experiencing a STEM skills shortage, investing time and energy in future scientists and engineers is vital to inspire them to take up a future career with charities like ours.
And working with schools also helps in the here and now, by creating opportunities for young people to volunteer. Already the STEM work has created inclusive volunteer opportunities through a partnership with a college for pupils with special educational needs. These volunteering sessions will run for a second time, this spring.
Although she’s been in this post for a year, Nowrujee is a woman with big ambitions. For sixth form students she’s piloting a programme developed with civil engineers, mechanical and electrical engineers, water engineers and hydrologists from the Trust. 50 young people are taking part in three sessions, two of which involve field work at the Docklands and Stoke Bruerne to gain first-hand experience of how STEM professionals maintain our waterways.
She’s also looking to trial another volunteer partnership with schools in Tottenham teaching English for speakers of other languages. And to reach out to young people outside the formal school system, she’s also working with Pupil Referral Units across London.
Nowrujee is keen to see our STEM programme extended across our network, but with funding for the STEM programme ending this September and initiatives like this hard to find, our charity is always looking for donations or partnerships that can give this work a more long-term, national and sustainable future. Why not get in touch with Nowrujee, if you’d like to learn more?
