BIG BANG
YOUNG ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS SHOW
THEIR PACES AT BIG BANG
Left: Sean Turner with his automatic irrigation system
for garden plants. Sean, from Llanfyllin High School,
won the Young Engineer of Britain senior age group
with his device. The YEB formed part of the Big Bang
in London in March. The event was designed to attract
young people into careers in engineering and science
and encourage them to study STEM subjects
Right: Sir Anthony Cleaver, co-patron of Big Bang,
speaking at the launch of the event in London. Big
Bang attracted over 9,000 students, teachers,
educationalists, engineers and scientists from around
the country to the three-day event. Next year it will be
staged in Manchester.
6,000 secondary school students
attend the Big Bang Young
Scientists & Engineers Fair
THE SCIENCE and highlights of the Big Bang was
engineering community, the newly established National
government departments and Science Competition – the UK’s
some of Britain’s biggest most significant competition to
companies launched the first identify the first UK Young
UK Young Scientists & Scientist and UK Young
Engineers Fair, the Big Bang – Technologist of the Year. The
the UK’s biggest ever science
competition was open to all
event for students and teachers.
13–19 year olds including
An unprecedented coming
regional finalists from the BA
together, the Big Bang was 2009’s
(British Association for the
focal point for science and
Advancement of Science) CREST
engineering, showcasing the best
awards and Young Engineer for
the UK has to offer and inspiring
Britain competition.
future generations to get involved
in a sector that is key to the UK
James Morgan with his rubble rake which took the YEB senior age group
A celebration
prize for design, innovation and presentation at the Big Bang. James (19)
economy.
was a student at St Colman’s College, Newry, Northern Ireland.
Over three days at the QEII
of UK science
_______________________________________________________________
Centre in London, nearly nine
thousand young people, teachers
& engineering
Event co-patrons Sir Anthony economy, those countries that
Cleaver and Sir Tom McKillop have invested in science and
and members of the public
designed to
recognised it as a watershed
engineering are doing well. The
witnessed the UK’s largest and
boldest celebration of UK science inspire the
moment. Science and
Big Bang will have a huge
engineering contributes over
impact in attracting students
and engineering. The Big Bang
demonstrated the excitement and
coming
21% to the UK’s GDP and the
from across the country to get
Big Bang demonstrated the
opportunities of the sector and
generation
involved in science and
importance of this sector to the
engineering and ensure our
encouraged greater take-up of
economy both now and for the
economic footing is strong for
careers in science and
A prestigious, celebrity-led
future. The turnover of the
the future.”
engineering. It featured
awards ceremony was the
engineering and technology
Minister of State for Science
compelling and engaging shows,
highlight of the Big Bang. Each
sector alone is over £800 billion.
workshops and presentations
& Innovation, Lord Drayson,
Sir Anthony, who is also
winner received a personal cash
across the science and engineering chairman of the Engineering and
was fully supportive of the Big
spectrum; displays and
prize of £5,000, a once-in-a-
Technology Board (ETB), told
Bang. “Science and engineering
demonstrations of leading-edge
lifetime international science or
Technology in Education: “The
offer some of the most fulfilling,
UK technology from sponsor
technology trip, a trophy and
UK economy needs a strong
well paid and interesting careers
companies including Shell and
opportunities to represent youth
science and engineering sector if
on the planet. The Big Bang is a
BAE Systems, and exhibition
science at events across the UK
it is to break through recent
showcase for our brightest and
stands to showcase further and beyond over the following difficulties and provide a strong
best.”
inspirational projects.One of the year. basis for growth. In the global
Continued on page 30
Technology in Education No.165 March 2009 28 Check out our website: www.technology-in-education.co.uk
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