GFG Foundation Delivers Carbon Capture Workshops for Students

The GFG Foundation in partnership with ALVANCE British Aluminium and JAHAMA Highland Estates, teamed up to deliver an employer-led event to give students some important skills to help them towards being job-ready after school. These include STE(A)M based learning programmes, designed to involve students in problem solving real-world issues that are happening in their local communities.  

Together with the Engineering Development Trust and DYW West Highland, the Foundation delivered interactive Carbon Capture workshops to all S2 pupils from Lochaber High School, showing how it’s done in Lochaber, explaining the meaning of climate change and global warming; discovering what greenhouse gases are and what causes them, and investigating why they are a problem for our planet.

Working in collaboration with students, they explored their energy use, as well as analysing their own carbon footprint to provide them with a visual understanding of their impact on their local environment. With the application of STE(A)M, they explored how carbon can be captured naturally in the environment, along with future proposed projects of artificial carbon capture in the UK.

After several engaging presentations from our colleagues, James Tangney, Lead Engineer, Jonathan Hart, Liaison Manager and Claire Neilson, Community & Engagement Manager with partners, sparked an invigorating Q&A session, the students sat in groups and used the knowledge gained from the day to design an eco-garden, based on the best approach for Carbon Sequestration with the additional challenge of adding anything else to be eco-friendly.

Investing in future generations is something that we are passionate about at the GFG Foundation, so it was great to see how engaged the students are when it comes to understanding more about how we can protect the environment. Even at their current age, they can engage in activities such as recycling, being mindful of lighting usage, conserving water, walking more, and reducing their carbon footprint.

Claire Neilson, Community & Engagement Manager

Several groups then presented their gardens to the audience, highlighting at least one learning point each.

Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging time, helping our future workforce identify how physical and human processes interact to influence and change environments and the climate. The workshops will continue with S2 students from Kinlochleven, Mallaig, Ardnamurchan and Kilchumen.