Business
Bang full of Big ideas from Devon’s schools and colleges
Posted on: 3 February 2012
Bigger, noisier, gooeier, and wizzier for 2012!
Budding young engineers, scientists, mathematicians, technologists and entrepreneurs in the South West are being encouraged to enter the South West regionals of a prestigious national competition. The National Science and Engineering Competition (NSEC) is designed to encourage creativity and innovation in schools and colleges.
The competition is just one element of The Big Bang South West, managed by Devon Education Business Partnership on the 28th June 2012 at the University of Exeter.
Schools from Cheltenham to Cornwall, Dorset to Devon will experience the whiz, bang, clunk and gloop of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and will showcase their best STEM projects.
For Devon students the Big Bang South West has got even bigger! Devon entries will be assessed for their commercial merit. Those identified will be provided with business mentoring support and a £250 ‘business angel’ bursary to help develop projects after the Big Bang South West.
Alongside the student competitions more than 60 local and national organisations will bring STEM to life in an interactive exhibition and career arena. The exhibition provides hands on activities and careers advice for all attending. Amongst other activities, students will get the opportunity to present the weather forecast for a typical summer’s day now and for the 2050s with the MET Office’s mock- up of a TV studio. Discover the connections between art and science with Daisi. Explore the advantages and limitations of solar PV, wind, hydro and wave technologies inside Camp Kernows inflatable walk in globe. Take a look down microscopes to see the tiny creatures that feed some of the sharks at The National Marine Aquarium. Play the ‘Virtual Vincenzo’ Harpsichord and other weird and wonderful virtual synthesisers with the Sound Gallery. Learn about all things in the word of Marine Technology with Babcock Marine. Interact with Exeter Universities’ ‘Eliza’ an early chatbot computer designed to hold a sensible conversation and then with Enga, a state-of-the-art chatbot who learns with every conversation she has.
Emma Walter- Devon EBP Event Co-ordinator says; “We are really excited to be managing The Big Bang South West for the second year in Exeter. We have even more hands on activities, more competitor space and an array of STEM careers information. Altogether more BANG!! We aim to show the expected 1500 young people the real excitement that lies in the UK in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.”
Jenny Rudge – Chief Executive Officer Careers South West Ltd says “The sense of excitement at last year’s event was something that will stay with me for a long time. What was so impressive was the sheer ability and creativity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics being demonstrated by our young people, their teachers and lecturers. This sort of energy has to be good for the future, I can’t wait for this year’s Big Bang South West”
Cabinet member for Economy and Enterprise and Employment, Councillor William Mumford says, “It’s vital we support and encourage young people’s interest in these subject areas and I’m sure Devon’s students will produce some innovative ideas. We are working closely with our partners to become a key regional centre for the development of science and technology industries based at Science Park in Exeter and I fully support young people’s aspirations in this subject area.”
To find out more about your regional fair, please visit the dedicated regional fairs’ site at www.thebigbangair.co.uk/SouthWest or contact Devon EBP by telephone 01392 215501 or emma.walter@devonebp.org.uk
Notes for editors:
About the Big Bang
The National Science & Engineering Competition is coordinated by the British Science Association in partnership with Young Engineers and The Big Bang. Principally funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and open to students aged 11-18 across the UK, the Competition aims to raise the profile of science and engineering in the UK.
The Big Bang Near You events take place across the UK to inspire young people about the science, technology, engineering and maths all around them
The Fairs are part of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Programme, a national programme which celebrates and raises the profile of young people’s achievement in science and engineering and encourages more young people to take part in science, technology, engineering and maths initiatives.
The national Big Bang hosts the finals of the prestigious National Science & Engineering Competition and is a key part of National Science and Engineering Week
About Devon Education Business Partnership
Devon EBP is a not for profit organisation. We work with partners from education and business, to raise the motivation and achievement of young people in education to become the workforce of the future. We offer sustained quality outcomes for students, teachers and employers
- Helping young people to learn the skills necessary for a productive life
- Assisting the exchange of expertise between schools and the workplace
- Brokering the contribution business can make to all phases of education
- Fostering the development of an enterprise culture in schools & colleges
- Supporting the economic development of the Peninsula and the wider South West
Devon EBP is a business unit of Careers South West Ltd.
For more information
For more information about how to get involved, contact Emma Walter on 01392 215501 and your email address
