COWDENBEATH Primary School pupils were this week given the chance to find out how Amazon's fulfilment centre works.

The initiative was a part of a campaign led by the British Science Association (BSA) to inspire pupils to embrace STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects in the classroom.

The campaign was given a major boost by Amazon during British Science Week when four local schools took part in the latest Camp Amazon STEM workshops at the fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.

Camp Amazon, which launched in 2018 in the UK, has been accredited by the British Science Association for its contribution to the learning of young minds in STEM subjects as part of the CREST Awards programme. The workshop counts as two of eight SuperStar challenges that children can earn to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.

CREST is a scheme that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers, while taking part in challenging and thought-provoking real-world STEM projects.

Local schools, including Cowdenbeath Primary, took part in a week-long series of events at Amazon and started their journey to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.

Pupils from Broad Street enjoyed a morning of BSA-approved activities which included a behind-the-scenes tour of the fulfilment centre and a STEM-based workshop that simulated a day in the life of an Amazon fulfilment centre.

From organising inventory lists to stowing stock and shipping customer orders, the STEM Camp Amazon offered pupils the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of an Amazon fulfilment centre and the rewarding career opportunities that STEM subjects can help to deliver.

The Camp Amazon events also saw pupils receive a donation of Amazon Dash Robots and Kindle devices.

Katherine Mathieson, Chief Executive, British Science Association, said: “The British Science Association is delighted to be partnering with Amazon UK. It’s great to see a leading technology company like this supporting STEM education.”

Amazon’s Dunfermline General Manager, Graham Allison, said: “Hosting these bright young minds in our building is one of a number of ways that we’re helping to unearth and inspire the next generation of STEM SuperStars.

"We created Camp Amazon as part of our aim to help as many young people as possible get excited by STEM subjects. We are delighted that the Amazon STEM workshop has been accredited by the CREST award programme.

"I hope the pupils and their teachers have enjoyed taking part in Camp Amazon and we look forward to seeing them all come back to visit us on a free public tour with their families in the future.”

Chelsey Montgomery, a teacher at Cowdenbeath Primary School, added: “Camp Amazon has been a brilliant experience for our pupils.

"To have the opportunity to take part in a STEM workshop, during British Science Week, in such an innovative and technologically advanced environment is a thrill for us and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at Amazon in Dunfermline for inviting us to their site.

"The opportunity for our pupils to see first-hand how STEM works in the real world was unmissable and start their journey to achieve a CREST SuperStar Award.”