At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, we explored the cutting-edge world of FOS Future Labs, where groundbreaking technologies and hands-on science experiences took centre stage. While there, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Tim Peake—astronaut, author and one of the UK’s leading voices in space exploration.
Tim shared insights from his career and spoke passionately about how we can inspire the next generation to pursue STEM, space science and future-shaping technologies. With Future Labs buzzing around us, filled with young people wide-eyed at lunar simulation displays, gravity-bending demos, dark-matter experiments and deep-sea exploration tech, Tim emphasised just how powerful these environments are.
“These events are important because they open doors to opportunity and help us find the talent that is out there – and it’s everywhere,” he said. By giving young people direct access to technology, they’re encouraged to ask questions and unlock curiosity—something Tim argues is the foundation of every scientific career. He explains that the real purpose of STEM events is to plant small seeds of inspiration. Whether a student dreams of working in space, designing the next generation of spacecraft, developing AI tools or researching the ocean’s unknown depths, exposure is the first step. But Tim also addressed a misconception he sees often: many students who excel in arts, drama or literature feel STEM isn’t “for them.”
In reality, he said, every modern career, creative or otherwise, will rely on technology. From AI-powered tools to advanced digital workflows, technology will shape every professional path. Understanding it, even at a basic level, empowers young people to thrive in whatever future they choose.
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