SACP Returns for Peterborough STEM Festival’s 10th Anniversary
The Schools’ Aerospace Careers Programme (SACP) returned to ARU Peterborough on Saturday 17 October 2026 to take part in the tenth anniversary of the Peterborough STEM Festival. Approximately 1,800 visitors attended the event, bringing children, young people and their families together to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Representing the SACP were Chris Marshall, Mike Stokes and Ogi Damjanovic, with activities spanning drone flight, aircraft simulation, virtual reality design, 3D printing and robotics. Visitors could take the controls, watch a model being made and even hold a conversation with Spot, the Boston Dynamics robot.
Chris Marshall led the XR drone simulator activities, giving visitors the opportunity to test their piloting skills in a virtual environment. The simulators offered an accessible introduction to drone flight and the coordination and precision involved in controlling an aircraft. For the SACP, these experiences provide a practical starting point for introducing young people to drone technology and its place within the wider aviation industry.
Mike Stokes ran the SACP flight simulator, where visitors could take on landing challenges. Participants had the opportunity to try bringing an aircraft down onto a runway, gaining a taste of the judgement and coordination involved in flying. The challenge gave visitors a clear task to work towards while introducing them to some of the skills pilots develop through training and practice.
Ogi Damjanovic demonstrated virtual reality design using Gravity Sketch, working on a model of Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot. Visitors could see how a design can be developed within a three-dimensional virtual workspace, showing a different approach to creating and exploring shapes. The demonstration highlighted the combination of creativity, spatial awareness and technical skills involved in digital design.
Alongside Ogi’s demonstration, a similar version of Optimus was being produced on a 3D printer. The print took approximately five hours and was completed during the event, giving visitors the opportunity to observe its progress from the early stages through to the finished model. Together, the VR demonstration and the separate printing activity illustrated the relationship between digital modelling and physical production, making both processes visible within the SACP’s exhibition area.
Spot, the Boston Dynamics quadruped robot, was also part of the day’s activities, speaking with visitors and answering their questions throughout the event. These conversations gave people a direct way to interact with the robot, adding another dimension to the SACP’s demonstrations of emerging technology.
The festival followed the SACP’s participation in ARU Peterborough’s separate Community Day in August and its attendance at the STEM Festival in 2025. Returning for the tenth anniversary provided another opportunity to introduce young people and their families to the technologies featured in the programme beyond its school Roadshows.
Through activities such as these, the SACP aims to make aviation, aerospace and space careers more accessible and understandable. Flight simulation, robotics, virtual design and manufacturing offer different starting points for exploring these sectors, helping young people see how an interest in flying, technology or creative design could develop into further study and a future career.
The SACP would like to thank Jonathan Frascella, Liz Randell and Andy Reedman, alongside the ARU staff and STEM Ambassadors, for their work in organising and supporting the event. We were pleased to contribute to this anniversary celebration and congratulate the Peterborough STEM Festival team on ten years of encouraging young people to explore STEM.
Supporting companies for this event: Airborne Platforms UK and DevelopMyWeb
