This new partnership builds on the successful experience of a temporary implementation of the Newton Room concept in 2019 at the same school. The Newton Room is a laboratory where modern and customised stations have been installed. It is a place where students can have immersive experiences while completing a module related to a practical topic such as maths, robotics or renewable energy.
From the left: Tomasz P. Kozera - Director of Public Secondary School of Lodz University of Technology, Adam Pustelnik - Vice-President of Łódź, Rafał Stepnowski - Vice-President of Boeing Poland, Marcin Buchali - Advisor to the Governor of Łódź, Alysia Tofflemire - Director of Newton Europe, Prof. Krzysztof Jóźwik - Rector of Lodz University of Technology
Newton Room is located on the premises of Lodz University of Technology, but as Tomasz Kozera, headmaster of Public Secondary School of Lodz University of Technology, says
- Students from other schools will be able to use the laboratory free of charge - and he adds - Thanks to Newton Room, modern technology enters the school, and with it, young people have the opportunity to learn about work in a modern laboratory. For the school, this is a great opportunity to establish cooperation with international corporations. A project of local rank becomes not only a nationwide project, but also an international one.
Alysia Tofflemire, the director of FIRST Scandinavia's continental office in Europe, points out
- We are opening this great space to inspire young people as well as adults with knowledge in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) area. Public Secondary School of Lodz University of Technology proved to be a great partner to introduce Newton's concepts to Poland. We are happy to work with an institution that shares our values, providing high quality education for young people.
Only good things can be said about the previous experience with the Newton Room. When the space opened for three weeks over 650 students took advantage of the activities, flying 266 hours on the flight simulators.
The permanent Newton Room is again supported by Boeing, and the educational modules are based on aviation-related topics.
- It is important for the company because we continuously invest in nonprofit programs in Poland, but we also hope to inspire young girls and boys to aviation and maybe one day they will join our growing team in Poland - says the president of Boeing Poland, Rafał Stepnowski.
Students will now have the opportunity to work on three different STEM modules:
- In the Air with Numbers: Students are given a mission to assist in a rescue operation. They have to plan a flight using various mathematical calculations (distance, speed, time, etc.) and become confident navigators. Finally, they perform a flight on one of three flight simulators.
- Robots and circumference: pupils discover strategies for calculating the circumference of circles and other two-dimensional shapes. Using robots, they must plan and carry out measurements and are encouraged to present and discuss their own choices of mathematical strategies.
- Sustainable Biofuels: Students will investigate two stages of industrial biofuel production: the enzymatic degradation of wood to sugar and the fermentation of sugar to fuel (ethanol). They will also evaluate and discuss biofuels in the context of sustainability.
According to the Rector of TUL, Professor Krzysztof Jóźwik, this is a very energetic mix of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
- I believe that this inspiration will bring good results and future constructors of the best solutions available to all of us will be born here. Let the launch of this modern and unique laboratory be a landmark moment in the development of our School students.
Boeing and FIRST Scandinavia have been working together since 2013 on various projects, including the establishment of the Newton Flight Academy in Bodø, Norway. In June 2018, FIRST Scandinavia was selected as Boeing's official European STEM partner with an investment of $5 million. The Newton concept is currently demonstrated in nine European countries through mobile solutions and fixed facilities.
Signatures on the glass were given by: (from left) Vice-Rector for Education Andrzej Romanowski, Rector Krzysztof Jóźwik, Headmaster Tomasz Kozera, Director Alysia Tofflemire and Grzegorz Stanny - Software Engineering Manager from Boeing