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Wales STEM Awards
Sustainability is one of the defining challenges of our time, and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) community is at the forefront of creating solutions to address it.
From renewable energy breakthroughs to the development of sustainable technologies, STEM innovations are essential to securing a greener, more resilient future. Across Wales, leaders in STEM are embracing sustainability as a core principle driving their work.
Renewable Energy: Leading the Sustainability Charge
One of the most significant areas where STEM is making strides in sustainability is renewable energy development. HydroWing, a Wales STEM Awards 2024 winner, has been recognised for its contributions to marine renewables. The company harnesses tidal energy, a resource with enormous potential along Wales’ coastline. HydroWing’s projects help reduce reliance on fossil fuels by providing clean, renewable energy.
Osian Roberts from HydroWing emphasises the growing demand for skilled STEM professionals, saying:,
“As marine renewable projects expand, there will be a considerable need for highly skilled jobs in STEM.”
EDF Renewables has also been recognised for its Destination Renewables project, capitalising on offshore wind and tidal energy. Ffion Davies from EDF says: “To reach Net Zero, we will need a skilled workforce to build projects at pace and scale,” highlighting the crucial role STEM innovation plays in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Meanwhile, Ipsen Biopharm, winner of STEM Company of the Year, is committed to reducing emissions by using 100% renewable energy across their operations in Wrexham. Mara Clapp from Ipsen shared: “We are saving 120 tonnes of carbon dioxide from lower energy consumption,” a testament to how STEM innovations are transforming industries toward more sustainable practices.
STEM and Sustainable Agriculture
STEM is not only transforming energy but also revolutionising agriculture with sustainability in mind. The University of South Wales won the STEM Research Project of the Year award for its work on SIFER, a project aimed at recovering nutrients from dairy farm waste using silicon fertiliser technology. This innovation reduces waste and promotes sustainable farming practices by ensuring valuable nutrients are recycled back into the soil. Christian Laycock from the University of South Wales highlights how this type of research shows that STEM can drive more environmentally-friendly food production practices, enhancing sustainability in agriculture.
The Role of Education in Sustainability
Educating future generations plays a pivotal role in achieving sustainability goals. Sharon Pascoe believes STEM education is key to creating a sustainable future, encouraging early education initiatives to build climate awareness and foster renewable technologies. “STEM’s contributions to sustainability will be seen as pivotal for achieving Wales’ long-term environmental goals,” she says, highlighting the importance of preparing students to tackle future challenges.
The Mullany Fund is one such initiative, offering young people hands-on learning experiences to show how STEM careers contribute to global issues such as climate change. Christie Heaven from Wales Interactive adds that it’s important for young people to see how STEM can directly impact their world:
“Engaging them through hands-on experiences—such as workshops, internships, and school collaborations—can ignite interest in STEM fields.”
Claire Jenkins from the Intellectual Property Office, named STEM Woman of the Year, stresses the importance of representation. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” she says, explaining how visibility of diverse role models is crucial to inspiring future generations to enter STEM fields, which will play a significant role in tackling environmental challenges.
Sustainable Innovation in Healthcare
The healthcare sector, too, is seeing groundbreaking innovations aimed at making processes more sustainable. Antiverse, another Wales STEM Awards winner, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate drug discovery and diagnostics. These AI-powered innovations help reduce waste and increase efficiency, showing how STEM can contribute to more sustainable practices in healthcare.
According to Jade Lodder from Pontus Research,
“Innovations in AI, automation, and IoT are enhancing sustainability in aquaculture, offering sustainable food production while reducing environmental impacts.”
STEM at the Heart of Sustainability
The future of sustainability depends on the innovative work being done within STEM fields. From renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to education and healthcare, the contributions of Welsh STEM organisations are paving the way toward a greener, more sustainable future. As the 2024 Wales STEM Awards winners demonstrate, STEM has the power to drive significant change, solving today’s environmental challenges while creating economic opportunities and improving societal well-being.
By continuing to invest in sustainable STEM innovations and fostering education and inclusion, Wales’ STEM community is ensuring that the path forward is not only greener but also more equitable.
As Ffion Davies from EDF explains:
“To reach Net Zero, we will need to build sustainable solutions that benefit both the environment and society.”
With STEM at the heart of these solutions, Wales is well-positioned to lead the way in creating a brighter, cleaner future.
