A delegation of six MLAs from Stormont’s Employment and Learning Committee paid a visit to the Nerve Centre’s FabLab project today (Wednesday June 12).  The MLAs, who were in town as a part of a wider initiative to bring Stormont Committees to see the City of Culture, spent an hour in the FabLab learning about the project and its innovative international network.  As part of the presentation the MLAs were briefed on the Nerve Centre’s role in championing the STEM to STEAM movement to bring arts and creativity to the heart of learning around the STEM subjects and engage new learners in schools and communities with digital creativity.  The Nerve Centre’s director of education, John Peto, explained the background to the visit ‘The FabLab and STEAM projects are delivering real programmes in communities in Derry~Londonderry and Belfast to engage young people in developing skills around digital manufacturing that are built on a STEM foundation but are really hands on, practical and relevant to users from all backgrounds and at all ability levels.  It is important that the Department of Employment and Learning Committee can see this at first hand, so were delighted to host them at the Nerve Centre'.  Speaking for the committee, Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey commented ‘It is fantastic to bring the Committee to Derry for a meeting and for them to see at first hand the work that the Nerve Centre is doing in building skills at all levels through international projects like the FabLab. We learned a lot here this morning and look forward to carrying this knowledge through in our work’.