A dynamic dozen engineers are set to inspire young people to become engineers on a mission this November.
The Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Big Assembly takes place on 7 November and features a panel of inspiring engineers.
They will discuss their careers and the positive impact engineering has on the issues young people care about most, such as protecting the environment, animal welfare, safety and security, health and entertainment.
Over 250 schools have already signed up to the Big Assembly with tens of thousands of students expected to take part, who will be able to ask questions to the panel live via social media.
Part of the panel is Sankha Kahagala-Gamage a student at Lougborourgh Grammar School who is an engineer on a mission to save epilepsy sufferers’ lives. Sankha designed and produced a wearable electronic device that detects epileptic seizures eight minutes before they occur. Sankha and his friend David won Young Engineer of the Year at the Big Bang Fair 2017.
The Big Bang Fair 2019 has opened for registrations with scientists from the Fair working with St Helen’s Primary School in Canning Town to create 3D printed meals. On the menu for children at St Helen’s Primary in Canning Town are:
- Geometric fish and chips, including hexagonal beans, cod and potato
- Cauliflower cogs
- Hummus and guacamole ‘lizard’ featuring avocado scales
- Fibonacci spiral squash
- 3D broccoli stars
- Fruit and yoghurt Pi
The meals, served during school lunchtime, followed a survey by the Big Bang Fair that found 71% of 11-16 year-olds think it’s crucial to have access to this kind of technology at school – not just in science labs and classrooms, but the school gym, playground and even the canteen, with 40% believing it will enable them to learn something while they eat.
Beth Elgood, Director of Communications at EngineeringUK, organisers of The Big Bang Fair and Competition, said:
Our research and this trial show just how big an appetite there is amongst young people to experience new technologies.
Building on young people’s curiosity about how they might shape the world in the future and inspiring them to think about where their science, technology, engineering and maths studies might take them, is what The Big Bang Fair and Competition are all about.
The Big Bang Fair 2019, the UK’s largest event aimed at inspiring young people into STEM, is open for registrations.