The giant snowflake that is getting kids into STEM

The children saw the building of the snowflake every step of the way

A giant metal snowflake designed by primary school pupils has been unveiled as part of a project to get children into engineering.

The project, led by marine engineering group Malin, tasked P5 pupils from Lorne Street primary school in Glasgow to design a snowflake. They then chose the winning design to be built.

The children were part of the entire building process, from the 3D printing to fabrication and then the final unveiling of the 7ft-wide (2.13m) metal structure.

The scheme has now been launched nationally, with 300 children sending in designs to be judged, in an effort to get more kids into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The blue metal sculpture is located outside the Malin Group headquarters at the Rotunda overlooking the River Clyde.

They hope to continue the scheme in the coming years, making more sculptures which will be placed in grounds of a new Scottish Marine Technology Park being built down the river at Old Kirkpatrick.

Lorne Street primary school pupil, Dylan, whose design won the competition said he was very excited to see the finished sculpture.

Even if it was painted in his "second favourite colour", he said.

Helenor Fisher, director of marketing and business development for Malin, said the programme was set up to get more children interested in and excited by engineering as a potential career and to encourage greater diversity in the industry itself.

She said: "We show clients the entire process, from fabricating to painting and blasting, so we thought we could do that for the kids.

"Watching them see the whole process from their initial drawing was pretty cool.

"It is amazing to see the energy, drive and creativity the next generation has.”