Activate Your Curiosity returns to Ballymena to inspire Northern Ireland’s future STEAM talent

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with a group of students participating in the Activate Your Curiosity event

More than 400 young people from across Northern Ireland were given a hands-on insight into the world of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) as the flagship Activate Your Curiosity (AYC) event returned to Ballymena.

The fourth AYC event took place at The Braid, Ballymena, on Tuesday 20 January, welcoming Year 10 students from schools across the region, including Castle Tower School and Roddensvale School.

Delivered by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, the event aimed to inspire the next generation through a dynamic programme of seminars, panel discussions and practical workshops.

Students enjoying workshop at the Activate Your Curiosity event

Designed to bridge the gap between education and employment, Activate Your Curiosity is supported through Labour Market Partnerships, which are funded by the Department for Communities.

These partnerships develop targeted employment action plans for each council area, helping people prepare for and access meaningful work through collaboration between councils, employers and education providers.

A key strength of the initiative is its close alignment with Mid and East Antrim Making The Future (MTF) – an industry-led collaboration uniting employers, education and the public sector to develop future skills pipelines in areas such as advanced manufacturing, engineering, energy and technology.

Through this partnership, students gain direct exposure to real-world careers and the growing innovation economy within the borough and beyond.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford pictured with Chair of the MTF Network, David Watson, and representatives of Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions (Headline Sponsor)

Speaking at the event, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Jackson Minford, highlighted the importance of early engagement with STEAM subjects.

“This year’s Activate Your Curiosity event was all about sparking curiosity, inspiring future talent and highlighting the vital role that Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths play in shaping our world.

“By bringing together young people, educators and industry, we are proud to showcase the limitless possibilities of STEAM careers and to encourage students to explore, ask questions and see how their learning connects to real-world opportunities.”

For many pupils attending, the event offered their first opportunity to engage directly with industry professionals and employers, helping them visualise how classroom learning can translate into future careers.

The programme placed a strong emphasis on accessibility and inspiration, particularly for young people who may not otherwise see themselves pursuing careers in technical or scientific fields.

Keynote presenter, Rowan Campbell Pilling, a rising star in British Motorsport concluded the event

The day concluded with a keynote address from Rowan Campbell Pilling, a rising star in British motorsport, who encouraged students to recognise the wide range of opportunities that STEAM subjects can unlock across diverse industries.

The 2026 Activate Your Curiosity event is sponsored by Saint-Gobain Exterior Solutions, returning for a third year as Headline Sponsor. Additional sponsors include Michelin Development, Caterpillar Larne, Moore Concrete, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Terumo Blood and Cell Technology, Phoenix Energy and EPUKI Ballylumford.

The flagship event is also supported in kind by Queen’s University Belfast, MEGA, Modern Democracy, Seagate, the City Deal, PlotBox and the NI Space Office, reflecting strong cross-sector commitment to developing Northern Ireland’s future workforce.

Students enjoying workshop at the Activate Your Curiosity event

(Tap photos to enlarge)

Activate Your Curiosity extends well beyond a single event. Running from September through to June, the year-round programme connects schools with industry through employer site visits, in-school talks, workshops, STEAM engagement activities and co-designed careers fairs. This ongoing approach helps young people better understand future skills needs and local career pathways.

The initiative is recognised as Northern Ireland’s leading event within the UK-wide Science Summer School programme, established in 2012 by Lord Andrew Mawson OBE and Professor Brian Cox CBE FRS, with the ambition to help “make the UK the best place in the world to do science and engineering”.

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, working in partnership with the MTF, local employers, education providers and the Labour Market Partnership, continues to lead the delivery of Activate Your Curiosity in Northern Ireland.

Further information on the initiative is available at:

www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/AYC