Mar 29, 2019
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair 2019 welcomed 80,000 people, including more than 62,000 young people over its 4 days earlier this month.
The Fair is the result of a huge collective effort and we are really grateful for all the work that went on behind the scenes and on the showfloor to give our young visitors the chance to get hands-on with STEM in hundreds of different ways.
From learning CPR, using an ultrasound see inside their body, learning about hormones, Red Arrows, agri-tech, Minecraft, 3D printing and pedal powered lightbulbs to karaoke showers, slime, rainbow unicorns and from a cloud factory to drone obstacle courses, climbing walls, hissing cockroaches, mosquitoes and moving armchairs – there really was something to spark everyone’s imagination.
540 incredible young people showcased a record 209 projects at the UK finals of The Big Bang Competition with Maeve Stillman (15) from Northern Ireland, crowned GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year 2019 for her project, Activated Charcoal & Medicines and Grace Lord, Brendan Miralles and Aalia Sellar (all 14) from the East Midlands, named GSK UK Engineers of the Year 2019 for their ‘music teacher in an app’ project, Music Splash.
On the Friday 49 teams competed in the finals of the Tomorrow’s Engineers EEP Robotics Challenge, with the team from Torquay Academy crowned UK winners alongside 6 teachers who were recognised for their leadership and support.
The Big Bang Careers Cabin is always busy and this year was no exception as visitors got a sneak preview of a new engineering quiz developed in partnership with UCL, spoke to engineers and scientists about their jobs, learnt about where their studies could lead them and got advice and information from careers advisers.
A new Women in STEM Leadership panel featuring Elena Falcon-Rodriguez, CEO of NMiTE, Dr Jaclyn Bell, Theoretical particle physicist and Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon, Co-Founder of STEMettes and our Chief Exec Dr Hilary Leevers was especially well received and looks set to become a regular feature in the future.
Planning has begun for next year and we already have some Welsh projects confirmed for the 2020 finals, we hope to see you there!
< Back to News & Views