Manx BirdLife were excited to be a part of STEMFest 2026, delivering a variety of activities centred on ‘fantastic feathers’. This year’s STEMFest was the largest yet, hosting, for the first time, children from every Primary School on the Isle of Man.
The annual event, now organised by the Department of Enterprise (DoE), and which took place on the 11th and 12th of March at the Villa Marina, was a chance for Year 5 and 6 school children to explore STEM subjects through interactive activities and games. Stalls included a range of local organisations, eNGOs, and Government departments, showcasing what the Island has to offer in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths). The event was attended by around 850 children from across the Island.
A variety of activities
The MBL team, who were invited to have a stand at the event for the first time, delivered activities about ‘fantastic feathers’. This included learning how birds use their feathers for camouflage and why; the different types of feathers birds have; the structure of feathers; and designing a feather for a wetland bird to camouflage in its habitat.
The stand also included an ID activity, which featured videos from trail cameras at the Manx BirdLife Point of Ayre National Reserve, allowing the children to have a go at identifying different species and to see the diversity of birds Manx BirdLife works to protect.
The next generation
Manx BirdLife were proud to inspire young people to take a greater interest in STEM subjects and embark on careers in nature conservation, and are grateful to the IOM DoE for the opportunity to do so. Nurturing the next generation of nature conservatists and educators is vital if society is to reverse local and global declines in bird and other species’ populations; mitigate impacts of climate change; and improve mental health and wellbeing through connection with nature.
