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The BWT Alpine Formula One Team, Microsoft, and Minecraft Team Up for STEM Effort
Students can learn about roles within a Formula 1 team through the Minecraft Education platform.
3 Min Read
_(1).jpg?width=1280&auto=webp&quality=95&format=jpg&disable=upscale "Even the zoomy Alpine F1 car doesn't look so sleek when rendered in Minecraft's signature 8-bit style.")
Even the zoomy Alpine F1 car doesn't look so sleek when rendered in Minecraft's signature 8-bit style.BWT Alpine Formula One Team
At a Glance
- Students get a taste of F1 jobs through the familiar Minecraft game.
- The Alpine team also meets with students in real life at some races.
- Teachers can download the education module for classroom use.
The BWT Alpine Formula One Team has joined forces with Microsoft to put an education module on the Minecraft Education platform for teachers to help introduce students to the various careers available within a Formula 1 team.
Additionally, the Race into STEM Minecraft Education world is supported by IRL (in real life) events in conjunction with F1 races in Mexico, the UK, Australia, and France in a bid to light the fire of enthusiasm in young minds.
The Race into STEM game is set in a Minecraft 8-bit recreation of the BWT Alpine Formula One Team factory in Enstone, Oxfordshire, U.K. It lets players explore the team’s facility and learn all about what it takes to build and race a modern Formula 1 car.
In the game, players meet team employees like Dalia Ramos Guerra, Head of Build and Test, and Chief Financial Officer Gemma Lang, who explain their roles and important details of the car. Players get to conduct wind tunnel testing of the race car and take part in a pit stop.
More than students have taken part in the live events around the world, and there have been more than 80,000 visits to the digital Race into STEM sites from 99 countries. This virtual resource is free worldwide and includes a curated curriculum by FIA Girls on Track UK, along with videos from BWT Alpine Formula One Team employees.
.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale "Minecraft_Education_Race_into_STEM_x_BWT_Alpine_Formula_One_Team_(1).jpg")
Middle Barton Primary School students get a taste of Formula 1 via Minecraft. BWT ALPINE FORMULA ONE TEAM
During a visit to the Alpine team’s local Middle Barton Primary School in Enstone, UK students got a taste of the new Minecraft Education world. More importantly, because they live nearby, the kids got a tour of the factory with the chance to learn directly from the employees featured in the game. That meant a Q&A session with Dalia, Gemma, and Senior Aerodynamicist, Paula Garcia Ruiz.
The Race into STEM Minecraft Education world can be played on the Minecraft Education website now education.minecraft.net. An outline of the activities in the games provides an idea of what students can expect.
Introduction to Formula 1 Concepts (10 minutes)
Activity: Begin with a brief discussion on Formula 1 racing and the roles of engineering, physics, and teamwork in car performance. Explain key terms like downforce, aerodynamics, and drag to establish a foundational understanding.
Meet the Formula 1 Team (10 minutes)
Activity: Students interact with in-game characters to learn about different STEM careers in Formula 1, including engineers, aerodynamicists, and race support engineers. They will explore each role’s contributions to car performance.
Wind Tunnel Aerodynamics Challenge (15 minutes)
Activity: Students use the wind tunnel and interactive panel to test different car configurations, adjusting parts like wings and side pods to achieve a balance between speed and downforce for optimal performance.
Engineering Office Exploration (10 minutes)
Activity: Students explore the Engineering Office to see how engineers use design and simulation to optimize car performance. This activity may include viewing computer models or speaking with team members to understand the science behind design choices.
Material Science and Clean Room Activity (10 minutes)
Activity: Students visit the Clean Room to learn about carbon fiber components, exploring how lightweight materials improve car performance. They will discuss material properties and the manufacturing process.
Reflection and Discussion (10 minutes)
Activity: After completing the challenges, hold a discussion where students reflect on what they learned. Prompts may include questions like: “Which challenge did you find most engaging?” and “How do you think these skills apply to real-world careers?”
Wrap-Up Quiz or Written Reflection (Optional, 10 minutes)
Activity: Assess students' understanding through a quick quiz on the concepts they explored or a written reflection about the skills they practiced and how they relate to STEM fields.
While the primitive 8-bit characters in Minecraft barely resemble the people they represent, at least no participating engineers needs to worry about an unflattering portrayal in a game where everyone is an unflattering blockhead!
About the Author
Dan’s coverage of the auto industry over three decades has taken him to the racetracks, automotive engineering centers, vehicle simulators, wind tunnels, and crash-test labs of the world.
A member of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year jury, Dan also contributes car reviews to Popular Science magazine, serves on the International Engine of the Year jury, and has judged the collegiate Formula SAE competition.
Dan is a winner of the International Motor Press Association's Ken Purdy Award for automotive writing, as well as the National Motorsports Press Association's award for magazine writing and the Washington Automotive Press Association's Golden Quill award.
Dan, testing the 2025 Aston Martin Vanquish. ANDY MORGAN/ASTON MARTIN
He has held a Sports Car Club of America racing license since 1991, is an SCCA National race winner, two-time SCCA Runoffs competitor in Formula F, and an Old Dominion Region Driver of the Year award winner. Co-drove a Ford Focus 1.0-liter EcoBoost to 16 Federation Internationale de l’Automobile-accredited world speed records over distances from just under 1km to over 4,104km at the CERAM test circuit in Mortefontaine, France.
He was also a longtime contributor to the Society of Automotive Engineers' Automotive Engineering International magazine.
He specializes in analyzing technical developments, particularly in the areas of motorsports, efficiency, and safety.
He has been published in The New York Times, NBC News, Motor Trend, Popular Mechanics, The Washington Post, Hagerty, AutoTrader.com, Maxim, RaceCar Engineering, AutoWeek, Virginia Living, and others.
Dan has authored books on the Honda S2000 and Dodge Viper sports cars and contributed automotive content to the consumer finance book, Fight For Your Money.
He is a member and past president of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
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