big kids
BY ASCENDANT GROUP LIMITED
STEM Education:
Encourages Critical Thinking
T
he Ascendant Group Limited held its second
STEM Summer Camp (2014) for middle-
school students, ages 12-15, with interest in
and proven aptitude for STEM – science, technology,
engineering and mathematics. There are three weeks
of STEM Camp, each offering a different level of
instruction. Ascendant Group’s operating companies
have many jobs that require STEM skills. The operat-
ing companies are Bermuda Electric Light Company
Limited (BELCO), Air Care, Bermuda Gas, facilities
management company iFM Limited, engineering
consulting company iEPC Limited, PureNERGY Re-
newables and Ascendant Properties. The STEM-related
jobs include trades and technical positions, such as
electrical or mechanical fitters and HVAC technicians,
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as well as IT and accounting professionals, environmen-
tal specialists and draughts people and engineers.
STEM Camp is conducted by a Bermudian teacher
with support from engineers from BELCO and iEPC, as
well as Ascendant Group’s Human Resources depart-
ment. Students enrolled in the camp develop challeng-
ing robotics and related HTML design projects. The
objective of the camp is to help students develop STEM
confidence and competence, as they are encouraged to
think about solving critical problems for the Island and
the Earth. Middle-school students have been invited to
participate, as they are just beginning to consider what
their career paths will be. Camp organizers hope to en-
courage boys and girls to consider careers in fields that
require problem-solving and technical expertise.