The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair The NEC, Birmingham, 13–16 March 2014
Inspiring our future scientists and engineers The UK’s largest youth event, dedicated to inspiring the scientists and engineers of the future, returns to The NEC, Birmingham, in 2014. The award winning Big Bang Fair brings together leading business and industry with exciting theatre shows, interactive workshops and exhibits, and excellent careers information, resources and activities to bring science and engineering careers to life with a bang.
Over an action-packed four days, thousands of young people, their teachers and parents will: • be amazed by the science and engineering all around them • learn about the importance of studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) • discover the wealth of exciting career opportunities available to them in science and engineering.
The Big Bang Fair 2014 in numbers • 70,000 visitors • Two school days • Two family days • 35,000sqm show-floor • 8 zones
The Big Bang Fair is an unprecedented and unparalleled collaboration between Government, education, industry and the wider STEM community. Working together, we provide the introduction that puts young people on course to follow rewarding careers in science or engineering. In partnership, we are generating the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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• 75 interactive activity stands • 4 8 theatre show sessions in three theatres • 60 sponsors • 2 00 projects in the National Science + Engineering Competition finals • A round 200 organisations from across the STEM community
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Highlights of 2013 In its fourth year The Big Bang Fair welcomed over 65,000 visitors to ExCeL London. A wide variety of jaw-dropping shows, hands-on workshops, exhibitions, careers resources and competitions – including the finals of VEX Robotics, F1 in Schools and the National Science + Engineering Competition – drew over 65,000 people to The Big Bang Fair 2013. Almost 200 organisations came together to make The Big Bang Fair a success. The show-floor grew from six to eight themed zones in 2013, from understanding the body inside out with Body Talk to finding out about the emerging technologies shaping tomorrow’s world in the Next Factor. The new Ideas Factory was packed with engaging challenges and interactive experiences, and the Careers Hub was booked-out with activities from careers networking to Tomorrow’s Engineers workshops. Volunteers from all levels of industry, from senior management to graduates and apprentices, dedicated their time to share their experience with young people and provide valuable careers advice and guidance.
I cannot describe to you how much I enjoyed myself at The Fair. It made me feel so very happy to have a chance to talk to people about my work. It is an experience which I will never, ever forget and it has inspired me greatly.
A brilliant day. My son is already very keen to look at a career in engineering, and this event has given him some great ideas. Father
N a t iona l Sc i e n ce + Eng i n e e ring Com p et i t ion Showcasing talent and celebrating achievement
Competitor
The Big Bang Fair is host to the finals of the prestigious National Science + Engineering Competition, which in 2013 saw 450 finalists showcasing STEM projects. Competitors are allocated stand space on the main exhibition floor, rubbing shoulders with the corporate and other stands and explaining their projects to the thousands of visitors. This gives those young people who visit the event the opportunity to see and talk to peers actively involved in STEM activities. Competition finalists showcase their work to a world-class panel of judges, which in 2013 included particle physicist and broadcaster Professor Brian Cox OBE, renowned space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, Nobel Prize winning biochemist Sir Tim Hunt, and the Science Museum’s inventor in residence Mark Champkins.
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This year eighteen-year-old Emily O’Regan from Newcastle College was named the UK Young Scientist of the Year for her project, which studied breeding habits of endangered Chilean flamingos in captivity at Washington Wetland Centre’s Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. Fred Turner, 17, from The Crossley Heath School in Halifax, was awarded UK Young Engineer of the Year for his project Genetics at Home. Fred built a fully working Polymerase Chain Reaction machine, which enables people to carry out basic genetic tests at home, for a fraction of the cost of existing technology.
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The Big Bang Fair: building a big profile The important central messaging of The Fair has engaged the support of influential supporters and captured the imaginations of high-profile media. In 2013, The Fair was opened by Business Secretary Vince Cable, and attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts and Under Secretary of State for Women and Equalities Jo Swinson, among others. The Big Bang Fair makes waves across the media, achieving coverage from national broadcast and print to hundreds of articles in regional broadcast, print and trade media. 2013 highlights included five BBC Breakfast pieces from The Fair and a slot on the BBC Breakfast sofa for the UK Young Scientists and UK Young Engineer of the Year. Promotion for The Fair secured coverage as widespread as ITV Daybreak and Channel 4 Sunday Brunch to The Sun, the Daily Express and the Daily Mail.
If we’re going to succeed as a country, we need to train more scientists and more engineers. You’ve got to get them when they’re young. The Big Bang Fair is a great idea. Kids can come here and see what science can do and it also inspires and excites. Prime Minister, David Cameron
The impact of The Big Bang Fair Together we are winning hearts and changing minds about science and engineering careers. 97% of visitors enjoyed the 2013 Fair and, more importantly, 9 out of ten of our 11–19 year-old visitors said they learnt a lot at The Fair, over half spoke to exhibitors about careers and nearly three quarters said they now know how to access further information on careers in science and engineering as a result of their visit.
It’s a cracking idea. Get some of the UK’s biggest names in science, engineering and technology to pack stands with fun, interactive activities that encourage children to think about careers in these sectors. The Daily Telegraph
If your kids have curious minds, they will love The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair. Daily Mirror
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Get involved in The Big Bang Fair 2014 – be part of something unique!
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair is an unrivalled opportunity to promote careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Would you like to play a part?
Join a working group
There are a number of ways to share in this unique experience:
Sponsorship Packages for businesses range from £20,000 to over £100,000, whilst those for science and engineering institutions range from £2,500 to £25,000. You can find out more at thebigbangfair.co.uk/sponsors or contact John Halton on 020 3206 0436 or jhalton@engineeringuk.com
Sponsors will be invited to join a relevant Industry Sponsors Group, depending on the level of sponsorship. There are also opportunities to get involved without sponsorship, including joining the Activities Working Group and Midlands STEM Cohesion Group. For more information email us at info@thebigbangfair.co.uk
Come to The Fair and bring your family and friends The Big Bang Fair is open to schools on 13–14 March and opens its doors to families on 15–16 March 2014. The Fair is completely free, but you will need to register early to make sure not to miss out on popular shows.
Deliver an activity Give young people the opportunity to experience hands-on the excitement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Discover more at thebigbangfair.co.uk/activities
Registration opens this autumn.
Volunteer Use your experience and expertise to guide visitors around the show-floor, provide careers advice or help out with an activity. The call for volunteers will open this autumn. Find out more and sign up at thebigbangfair.co.uk/volunteer_signup
The Big Bang Fair is important because it will become ever more crucial for children to be engaged in science, technology, engineering and maths. Sponsor
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The Big Bang is affiliated with Society for Science & The Public. The trade mark BIG BANG is the property of Big Bang Limited and is used here under license.
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