Engineering news
The Big Bang science and engineering fair for young people is to receive special recognition for its work in promoting engineering later this month.
The science showpiece, led by EngineeringUK, is to be awarded the 2012 Rooke Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering in recognition of its success in communicating the excitement of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to young people and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
The medal will be awarded at the Royal Academy of Engineering’s annual awards dinner at the Royal Opera House on 26 June.
EngineeringUK chief executive, Paul Jackson, said: “It’s great to be recognised by the Royal Academy for the work we’ve been doing. The team at EngineeringUK has developed new ways to work with a wide collaboration of business and industry, government, education and the wider STEM community. It shows how much can be achieved when we work together to reach out to the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“Since its first pilot event in 2009, The Big Bang Fair has grown attendance from 6,500 - 56,000 – a rate of growth quicker than Glastonbury. The fact that a careers fair can attract attendance larger than most Premier League crowds is testament to The Fair’s ability to capture public imagination with science, technology, engineering and mathematics and the rewarding careers available in these fields.”
Robert Kirby-Harris, secretary general at the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, said: "The Big Bang Fair has fostered strong links between industry, education professionals and the public sector to the extent that it has reached long-term sustainability and has built brand awareness on a national and regional political and media scale. It is also in the process of transforming through its physical, web and media presence in to a full year, pan-UK operation."
Over 56,000 people visited The Fair at The NEC, Birmingham, in 2012, almost doubling 2011 numbers and demonstrating huge growth since its inaugural event in 2009.
Delivered by over 170 organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors, The Big Bang Fair is led by Engineering UK in partnership with the British Science Association, the Institute of Physics, the Science Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Young Engineers. It is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and industry sponsors.
The fair hosts the National Science & Engineering Competition as well as other prizes. The Big Bang programme is expanding its reach via Big Bang Near Me events taking place nationwide to engage more young people close to home.