THE number of students pursuing careers in engineering and science subjects needs to increase significantly, Belfast Harbour has urged.
The port authority said an upsurge was vital if the north was to achieve a workforce able to compete globally in key industries of the future.
To help boost the number of pupils, particularly young woman, studying science, technology, engineering and maths (stem) subjects, Belfast Harbour is working with Science Starz, a mobile lab that delivers curriculum-led, hands-on experiments and investigations in primary and nursery schools.
Science Starz, which is led by women and aims to show children that science is for girls as well as boys, has completed stem-related workshops in four primary schools across Belfast - Mercy PS, Lough View Integrated, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste and Fane Street PS.
The visits included an event at Belfast Harbour Office in which each school took part in more experiments and met businesses who will need employees with stem skills in the future.
Jenni Barkley, communications and corporate responsibility manager, said Belfast Harbour believed it was essential it played its part in creating the workforce of the future and "ensuring there is enough talent directed towards the stem subjects that are already in such high demand in the fast-growing growing engineering, technology and digital sectors".
Elita Frid, director at Science Starz, said her work aimed to bring stem to life with exciting, fun experiments that engaged children.
"If we can show both girls and boys that studying stem opens up a wide and varied range of career options, it gives us a much better chance of creating the talent pool the Northern Ireland economy will need in years to come," she said.
