STEM Workshops in Cornwall

Cornwall's STEM heritage stretches back centuries, rooted in a mining industry that once produced two-thirds of the world's copper. Cornwall's tin and copper mines drove pioneering advances in steam engine technology that powered the industrial revolution. Richard Trevithick, born in Illogan in 1771, built the world's first high-pressure steam engine and the first full-scale working railway locomotive. In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi sent the first transatlantic wireless signal from Poldhu on the Lizard Peninsula. In 1962, Goonhilly Earth Station played a central role in the first live transatlantic television broadcasts via the Telstar satellite, connecting Cornwall to the dawn of the space age.

Richard Trevithick's high-pressure steam engines transformed mining, industry and transport worldwide. Humphry Davy, born in Penzance in 1778, discovered several chemical elements including sodium and potassium, and invented the Davy safety lamp that saved countless miners' lives. Elizabeth Carne, born near Hayle in 1817, became the first woman elected to the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall, publishing papers that challenged prevailing geological theories.

Cornwall is experiencing a remarkable STEM renaissance. As at July 2026, Spaceport Cornwall at Newquay Airport is a licensed horizontal spaceport and the centre of a growing space cluster, but no current launch operator is listed on the CAA's public register. Goonhilly Earth Station has been repurposed as a commercial satellite communications hub supporting European Space Agency and NASA deep-space missions. The FaBTest wave energy test site off Falmouth continues to support marine renewable energy research. The Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter's Penryn campus has an international reputation for mining, minerals and geoscience. Tech Cornwall, the county's digital trade body, represents a growing cluster of tech companies.

Cornwall offers an increasingly exciting range of STEM career pathways. The space cluster around Spaceport Cornwall and Goonhilly supports roles in satellite engineering, mission operations, space data analysis and ground station technology. Marine renewable energy research at FaBTest and the floating offshore wind sector offer careers in marine engineering, environmental science and energy technology. Tech Cornwall's growing membership of tech companies provides roles in web development, data analytics, cybersecurity and digital marketing. The University of Exeter's Penryn campus offers strong programmes in renewable energy, mining engineering, marine biology and computer science. Apprenticeships in IT, engineering and construction technology are available through local employers and Cornwall College.