HUNDREDS of girls have taken up a challenge to inspire them to take up careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

A total of 38 teams, involving pupils from Years 8 and 9 in local schools, have entered the Bourne-mouth Soroptimists STEM Chall-enge.

The challenge invites students to come up with ideas to help the poorest people in the world.

Each team has to design, research and build a product which would do this.

It has to be sustainable, fit for purpose as well as cost effective. STEM fulfils the Soroptimist goal to focus on transforming the lives of women and girls, locally, nationally and globally, through education, empowerment and enabling initiatives. Prizes will be awarded to the winning schools in both year groups as well as to the winning team members.

Entrants will also receive the coveted British Science Assoc-iation Bronze CREST Award which recognises achievement in STEM subjects.

Judging and prizegiving will take place at Bournemouth Uni-versity next month.

President of Bournemouth Soroptimists Kirsteen Harding said she was ‘proud’ that the club is able to encourage Years 8 and 9 girls in STEM subjects, enabling them access to advice and prac-tical experience to career and university opportunities they may not have previously considered”.