STEAM workshop with Kelpi: blending science with creativity
During the October half term, The MoSAIC (in partnership with Streams Learning Hub and Science Creates Outreach) ran a STEAM workshop for young people in The Learning Lab at the Science Creates Old Market incubator (home of Kelpi). The two-day masterclass was designed for burgeoning interdisciplinary artists with workshops blending science and creativity, giving young minds the chance to explore cutting edge research and turn it into thought provoking visual art.
Over the two days, participants had the chance to:
Meet STEM professionals from the Science Creates ecosystem to ask questions and learn about their fascinating work
Unleash their creativity to design visual artworks that make science accessible and spark curiosity
Develop communication skills by pitching and explaining their ideas and write an 'Artist Statement' for their work
Kelpi were fortunate enough to be involved by sharing the work we are doing to tackle plastic pollution. We were stunned by the range and quality of artworks produced, which ranged from digital images to replicas of our ‘seaweed laboratories’ built using Minecraft!
One particularly stunning piece of digital artwork was from student Eben Neaves, which was ‘about a plastic bottle growing out of the kelp and slowly degrading into the water’. This beautifully captured Kelpi’s goal to create plastic from seaweed that can be disposed of without harming the environment.
Kelpi are a member of the Corporate Supporter Scheme for Science Creates Outreach, and have participated in a number of workshops related to STEAM and plastic pollution. Some feedback from these workshops was shared with Kelpi:
"Just a quick email to say thank you for the two-day workshop last week. [She] absolutely loved it and went to bed on Wednesday night saying she felt so sad it was over."
"I feel very lucky that we have had this opportunity for such an inspiring and accessible learning experience."
"Thank you. He had an absolute blast. There’s not many places he’s been where he feels safe and welcome, and he can’t wait to come back and work with you!"
“Please also pass on our thanks to the team from Kelpi. Meeting real people who work in STEM roles is one of the most effective ways that the project supports students to see themselves as scientists and engineers and the Kelpi duo both represented their work with clarity and enthusiasm.”
Kelpi strongly believes in the importance of young people’s contribution to the future of our planet, and very grateful to Science Creates Outreach for the opportunity to share our message and be part of their inspiring workshops.