Our FREE three-lesson computing resource for KS3 and KS4 gives students a challenge with real race pressure and real problem-solving built in.
In the America’s Cup, races can be won or lost before they’ve properly started. Teams spend thousands of hours testing, improving and fine-tuning performance to hit the start line at exactly the right moment. Too early? Penalty. Too late? You’re chasing.
Students take on that same challenge by coding a foiling yacht to cross the line at exactly the right time.
But this isn’t just about getting from A to B. Along the way students build core computing skills through testing ideas, debugging mistakes and improving performance as they go. Because coding – like sport – rarely works perfectly first time. And those are lessons that travel well beyond the classroom.
On International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re reminded that women still make up less than a third of the global STEM workforce, and far fewer in engineering and technology. The gap doesn’t start with ability. Girls do just as well in science at school. It starts with confidence, visibility and opportunity.
We sat down with Lauren Eatwell, Head of WindWings at BAR Technologies, to talk about curiosity, confidence, climate solutions and what really helps girls see themselves in STEM. For Lauren, science clicked through problem-solving. Maths, mechanics and physics appealed because they allowed her to work things out, not memorise answers. That same curiosity now underpins her career in engineering.
That same mindset now shapes how Lauren thinks about some of the biggest challenges facing the world today, particularly climate change and sustainability. For her, science and engineering are powerful because they allow us to approach problems from different angles.
“If we want to think about things in new and different ways, we need as many varied brains and experiences applied to it as possible.”
Diversity isn’t just about representation, it strengthens outcomes.
“As with anything in life, success comes not just from good ideas, but from being able to realise them through collaboration and communication. Diverse teams bring real strength to companies.”
For girls deciding whether STEM is for them, visibility can be the deciding factor, this is where representation really matters.
“Seeing women across the full spectrum of roles hopefully inspires more girls to embrace those paths”
Her advice to girls is simple: “Don’t worry about where you fit or where you’ll end up, I’m confident no one really knows that. Keep making decisions that let you follow interesting work and studies. If you enjoy STEM subjects, you’ll have a solid foundation that can take you in so many different career directions.”
Lauren’s journey shows what’s possible when curiosity is encouraged and pathways are visible. And on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, her message is clear:
“STEM needs girls’ ideas, voices and talent, now more than ever”
At the 1851 Trust we’re passionate about supporting all young people see themselves in STEM, the gender gap in STEM isn’t about talent. It’s about opening doors and making sure girls know they belong.
Sometimes all it takes is one story, one voice, one role model to spark a young person’s belief in themselves. For girls especially, seeing women succeed at the highest level — in sport, in science, in leadership — can be life-changing.
That’s why athletes like Hannah Mills OBE matter so much. As one of the most successful female Olympic sailors in history, Hannah isn’t just a champion on the water — she’s a champion for change. She speaks out on climate action, mentors young people, and shows that determination and courage can open doors far beyond sport. For a teenage girl wondering if she belongs in STEM, or whether her voice is strong enough to make a difference, Hannah’s example says: yes, you do, and yes, it is.
And the impact goes far beyond Hannah alone. Research shows that 70% of girls feel more confident to follow their dreams when they see women leading the way, yet women currently represent just 28% of the STEM workforce (WISE, 2023) and fewer than 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs(Fortune, 2024). In sport, women still receive less than 10% of media coverage. That’s why role models — whether they’re athletes, engineers, scientists or entrepreneurs — are so powerful. They help young people, especially young women, picture themselves in spaces they might not otherwise imagine.
At the 1851 Trust, this is at the heart of our mission: to use the power of sport to inspire the next generation in STEM and climate education. We know that when students connect the excitement of high-performance sport with science, engineering and technology, their curiosity grows — and so does their belief in what’s possible for their own futures.
That’s exactly why we created the “Use Your Voice” resource on STEMCrew. Featuring Hannah Mills and other inspirational athletes, it’s designed to help students explore how personal stories, science, and sport can combine to make a real difference in the world. It’s not just about learning — it’s about giving young people the confidence to speak up, take action, and dream bigger.
So the question is: how will you use your influence? Whether you’re a teacher, parent, coach or mentor, every encouragement you give matters. Together, we can help young people find their voice, follow their passions, and shape a better future.
👉 Explore the free “Use Your Voice” resource here: STEMCrew.org
1851 Trust and Howden Join Forces to Empower the Next Generation through SPORT
Portsmouth, UK July 2025
At the historic Royal Naval Dockyard 120 local students aged 11–14 from local secondary schools stepped into the thrilling world of high-performance sport and science this week as STEM Crew Live arrived in Portsmouth. Delivered by the 1851 Trust and supported by Howden, a global insurance intermediary group, , this two-day interactive event harnessed the power of sport to ignite ambition, build confidence, and break down barriers to STEM education and broaden horizons to a range of future careers.
Transforming Perceptions through Sport-Inspired Learning Founded by Olympic legend and Emirates GBR SailGP Team CEO Sir Ben Ainslie, the 1851 Trust uses sport inspired learning to help young people see themselves in the world of science, innovation, and sustainability. STEM Crew Live goes beyond the textbook, giving students access to athletes, and hands-on activities that mirror real-world challenges, it is designed to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects real, relatable, and inspiring unlocking potential and building confidence in the young people we meet.
At STEM Crew Live Portsmouth young people explored the big question of the day, “How do we mitigate against risk”. Through four hands on sessions across the two days, from boat and sail design where students competed for the fastest design of the day, to wind tunnel experiments and a careers speed networking session with professionals across sailing, maritime and insurance, students explored how risk is managed both in high performance sport and the insurance world. With support from a team of Howden professionals alongside SailGP athletes like Hannah Mills and Ben Cornish students discovered the parallels between sport, business, and science.
The young people were given an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the British team’s SailGP tech base, seeing the Emirates GBR F50 boat up close, meeting team members and finding out how they take their team off grid at all events through a solar and wind turbine installation created by Low Carbon.
“There’s a perception around some jobs and industries that you need certain qualifications or specific skillsets. What we hope young people take away from events like these is the breadth of career paths and opportunities in industries like insurance. There’s something for everyone – if you’ve got the right passion and attitude, there are no limits to what you can achieve.
Being able to bring this to life through the high-quality immersive experience the 1851 Trust and Emirates GBR created for the young people today was really special. The wide-eyed smiles and unwavering engagement throughout the day told me that this will stick in their minds for a very long time.” – Hayley Langston, Group Head of Social Impact, Howden
“All young people deserve access to powerful, future-shaping experiences, especially those from communities that are historically underserved or underrepresented. By connecting young people with real-life role models we spark ambition, build confidence, and show them that they belong in these spaces,” Jo Grindley CEO 1851 Trust.
Portsmouth has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the South of England. STEM Crew Live directly targets schools with high pupil premium and free school meal rates to ensure that those who stand to gain the most have access to this transformative experience. With over 40% of UK secondary schools already using the 1851 Trust’s free digital STEM Crew resources, this STEM Crew Live is part of a national mission to close opportunity gaps, build essential life skills, and inspire futures in science, green skills, and maritime innovation.
