Engaging young people
Young people are truly the future of the UK. Therefore, in order to promote the vital contribution that engineers, engineering and technology make to our society for the long term, those young people are crucial to reach.
Purpose
The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair was developed to improve young people’s perception of engineers and engineering careers.
EngineeringUK research shows that as little as 18% of the questioned 11-16 year-olds perceived engineering as a desirable career. However, the general perception of engineering amongst young people has improved (5% in one year) and EngineeringUK acknowledges a need to galvanise, harness and increase those improving perceptions.
A Big Bang can make an inspirational difference. As EngineeringUK research shows, 30% of 11 to 16s had seen, heard of, or visited something in the past year that presented engineering in a positive way and inspired them. Of these, the majority claimed that a positive representation on television, at an event or an exhibition was what stuck in their minds, revealing that as methods of inspiring and engendering change, large scale activities do work.
Aims and targets
The Big Bang is aiming to excite, developing a programme of wide-reaching activity that instantly engages and resonates with each audience group. The Big Bang is moreover aiming to inspire, creating a genuine and sustained level of curiosity and enthusiasm. In addition to showcasing the excitement of STEM, to capture attention, explanations of the importance of engineering and science ensures that each audience takes action to get involved.
Furthermore, The Big Bang is aiming to be inviting; demonstrating that science and engineering is accessible and relevant to everyone. Finally, The Big Bang is aiming to lead; to ensure that both The Competition and The Fair are seen as key national drivers in nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers, so crucial to the UK’s future prosperity.
Our ultimate vision for The Big Bang is that every child in the UK should know someone involved with The Fair.
Previously
The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair, featuring the National Science and Engineering Competition, was a real success in 2009. Attracting over 6,500 visitors and 50 sponsors, The Fair achieved high profile media coverage on GMTV and the Today Programme amongst many others.
More results from last year…
Sally Gold, Head of UK Social Investment - Shell said:
“It was great to be involved with the first Big Bang. We enjoyed engaging with the huge number of students and teachers visiting the Shell stand and we were impressed with the quality of the prize winners. These students are vital to the future of the UK – I hope we were able to provide them with some food for thought around energy provision and a measure of inspiration to continue with their STEM studies to university”.
John Denham MP said:
“I was impressed by the enthusiasm and ingenuity of our young people during my visit to the Big Bang Fair. Each one of the competitors and student projects had their own story to tell. This not only generated a buzz at the event but sent an important message to communities across the UK about the need to inspire and nurture young scientific and engineering talent."
Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, said:
"I really enjoyed the Big Bang experience - both the excitement of the awards ceremony and the chance to tour the exhibition and meet the students. It was fantastic to see so many young people from around the UK switched on to science and engineering. It is hugely important that we feed their natural curiosity and drive for experimentation with an initiative like this. I want kids to realise the exciting possibilities that a career in this field can bring and see them become the scientists and engineers of the future."
Current and future evelopments
The Big Bang 2010 takes place 11th-13th March at Manchester Central, Manchester. On the 11th-12th March students, careers professionals and teachers will have the opportunity to visit The Fair, involving STEM-related professionals, business representatives, associations and companies. For the first time, this year’s event will also include a public day on 13th March, giving parents and carers the opportunity to experience the fair together with their children.
So far, over 10,000 attendees are registered, already breaking last year’s total attendance levels of 6,500. The recent first round review of activity submissions is shaping up to show a broad cross section of STEM enhancement and enrichment stands on the show floor. The Fair is shaping up to become the largest enhancement and enrichment STEM platform in the country.
We’ve also been raising the profile of the National Science & Engineering Competition in recent months. The ‘If Only…’ campaign was launched by Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, at the British Science Festival on 7 September and has been a great success in getting people talking about their ideas for future STEM inventions.
Asking celebrities, business people, academics, politicians and the general public to tell us the one thing they wish was invented has generated debate and interest around the importance of STEM in our future. The campaign has included contributions from Gary Lineker, Nasser Hussain and John Humphreys, and has created national and regional media coverage for the competition.
The competition has also been promoted through ‘On Your Doorstep’, an interactive online map displaying science and engineering treasures across the UK. Members of the public will be able to vote on leading examples of innovation and discovery, with the over-riding aim of identifying which UK region has the greatest scientific and engineering heritage.
Already supported by Lord Drayson, Minister for Science and Innovation, Phil Willis MP, Adam Afriyie MP, Brian Iddon MP, Evan Harris MP, Ian Taylor MP, are promoting The Big Bang 2010 even further among MPs and Peers by holding a Parliamentary Reception at the House of Commons in January.
Submit your invention idea at www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/ifonly/if_only.cfm.
Vote for your favourite invention, discovery, creation or construction at www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/doorstep.
Go to www.thebigbangfair.co.uk to find out more.
Video
You can watch highlights of The Big Bang 2009 on our sizzle reel, below.
Date Published: December 01, 2009
