South Yorkshire has officially unveiled the England first Newton Room,
ROTHERHAM, UNITED KINGDOM, 25 January 2024:– The first Newton Room in England opened its doors in South Yorkshire, housed at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham. The permanent classroom is sponsored by Boeing and in collaboration with the non-profit foundation FIRST Scandinavia.
CUTTING THE RIBBON: Kevin Tomlinson, CEO of Magna Science Centre; Maria Laine, President of Boeing in the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic region; and Per-Arild Korandsen, CEO and Founder of FIRST Scandinavia. All photos provided by BOEING.
The Newton Concept pioneered and administered by the non-profit foundation FIRST Scandinavia from Norway, seeks to engage and inspire young minds through state-of-the-art facilities and interactive learning experiences.
Newton South Yorkshire will be open to schools during term time and families on weekends and holidays, offering a dynamic space for students and the community to explore the wonders of STEM education.
South Yorkshire is the latest in a network of six Boeing-supported Newton Rooms across Europe. The UK’s first Newton Flight Academy was opened in Scotland at Glasgow Science Centre in 2022 and is home to three full-motion flight simulators.
FIRST FLIGHT. Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, taking her first flight in the flight simulation together with Kevin Tomlinson, CEO of Magna Science Centre; Per-Arild Korandsen, CEO and Founder of FIRST Scandinavia; and Maria Laine, President of Boeing in the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic region.
Per-Arild Korandsen, CEO and Founder of FIRST Scandinavia, attended the opening, "I am thrilled to witness the opening of our first Newton Room in England, housed at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in partnership with Boeing”, said Per-Arildl. “This marks a significant milestone in our mission to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers worldwide. Our collaboration with Boeing underscores our commitment to fostering high-quality STEM education globally. Together, we aim to provide young minds in the South Yorkshire region with an immersive and engaging learning experience, igniting their curiosity and passion for science and technology."
Sarah Champion, Member of Parliament for Rotherham, played a central role in the official opening ceremony. She and representatives from local government, education, and community groups, including Sheffield Air Cadet unit members, 362 Squadron, witnessed the ribbon-cutting event.
“I was delighted to officially open the Newton Room at Magna Science Adventure Centre. It’s fantastic to have such advanced learning facilities here in Rotherham that will benefit students across South Yorkshire and beyond,” commented Sarah Champion MP.
“Nurturing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and aviators is not possible without like-minded partners such as Magna Science Centre and First Scandinavia, and we're proud to continue being a conduit for collaborations that help develop vital skills for the future”, said Maria Laine, president of Boeing in the UK, Ireland and Nordic region. “This partnership builds on our long, proud involvement in the South Yorkshire region and reflects our ongoing commitment to the local community.”
“The brand-new aviation-themed facility at Magna will help to create new opportunities for visitors to enjoy immersive STEM learning”, said Kevin Tomlinson, CEO of Magna Science Centre. “The success of similar projects across Europe illustrates the important role of the Newton Concept when it comes to inspiring the next generation of engineers, scientists and aviators. It’s a terrific coup for Magna to be chosen as the site of England’s very first Newton Room, and the new facility will enable us to provide new forms of creative learning, which complements and enhances our existing offering.”
