Inspired by Mercury, we wanted to host our own outreach event to cultivate an early interest in STEM among youths. This opportunity manifested in a collaboration with our primary school where we invited 24 eager students to participate in a low stakes F1-style competition. Specifically, the aim of the event was to foster novel and innovative thinking amongst youths. After months of planning (and many tears from our Project Manager), we introduced 24 eager students from our lower school to the world of STEAM, hoping to inspire a genuine interest in the field.

Starting off, our team held an introductory workshop for participants to learn the basic principles of aerodynamics and graphic design. In teams, students then constructed their own miniature F1 cars by applying the knowledge learnt from the workshop. During this, we deliberately issued a minimal set of prescribed materials to all teams (i.e. a plain wooden block, car net, wheels, and axles) to give them more freedom over engineering and branding. This proved efficacious as teams added their own customary elements like decals and rear wings to their initial car body, fostering creative autonomy. While this was unfolding, others curated a miniature pit display to test students’ conceptual understanding, prompting critical reflection and enabling structured feedback for skill development.

What none of us anticipated however was how much we would learn in return: as the event unfolded, the student’s unfiltered curiosity reminded us of the joy that first drew us into the competition. Their excitement renewed a sense of direction after a particularly disorienting period of stagnation.

We also want to extend our gratitude to NYTRA Racing for helping us bring this event to life. Despite our rivalry, we were able to produce fruitful outcomes for the wider community. It truly reveals how meaningful impact emerges when we set aside team affiliations and recognise our collective obligation to nurture a life-long engagement within both STEM and Entrepreneurship.