Drax today announced a three-year partnership with Science World, which will bring STEAM education programs to rural British Columbia (BC) elementary schools, in alignment with Drax’s community funding to improve equitable access to STEM education and skills development in and around the communities where we operate.
Science World is the leading science centre in British Columbia that engages learners across the province in STEAM education. Through the interactive hands-on exhibits as well as the organizations’ outreach programs, students, teachers and families across BC are inspired to be the next generation of problem solvers and world changers.
“At Science World, our core belief is ‘Science for All,’ and this collaboration allows us to extend that commitment into rural and underserved communities across BC.” said Tracy Redies, President & CEO of Science World. “Through the On The Road program, we’re not just bringing science education to schools; we’re sparking curiosity and inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and environmental stewards. Together with Drax, we’re making science accessible, relatable, and most importantly, fun for everyone.”
“At Drax, we’re committed to making a lasting, positive impact in the communities and regions where we operate,” said Sandy Sung, Drax’s Community Manager for Canada. “Our focus is to work with local groups and organizations to improve local communities, enhance green spaces and biodiversity, and increase access to STEM education and skills development.”
Drax’s partnership with Science World will focus on On The Road – the in-school community program that Science World develops and implements province wide. Through the On The Road program, students across the province have their curiosity of science piqued. The program also boosts science literacy and inspires future science and technology leaders.
“This partnership is really exciting for us because early STEM education is a key focus of the Drax Foundation and Drax Community Fund,” Sung said. “Over the next three years we have the ability to help bring cutting edge, educational, and fun live demonstrations and activities to students in remote, rural and underserved communities across British Columbia.”
The On The Road program has been touring the province and visiting schools, festivals and public events since 1988. With the help of donours and the provincial government, the program has been able to increase its reach and provide free school visits in communities, both large and small, across BC. The high energy presentations are curriculum linked and provide an unforgettable science experience to over 30,000 students each year thanks to support from tour partners and sponsors.
Contact Information:
Caroline Bleay
Communications Manager, Canada
1-780-502-1571
[email protected]
About Drax
Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.
Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com/ca
Power generation:
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.
Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal, it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage) Incubation Area.
Its pumped storage, hydro, and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.
The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver four million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.
Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 18 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around five million tons a year.
Drax is targeting eight million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.
Drax’s pellet plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.
