Crawley’s much praised Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) festival is rolling on for another summer this year, offering big opportunities for local youths and businesses. It’s a project I’ve been pleased assist and support for two years now.
The Big Bang fair is an exciting, fun event attended by over 1,500 nine-19 year olds and their teachers from schools and colleges from all over the south-east of England, with over 25 hands-on workshops and shows delivered by experts from across the UK. The month-long festival, which I helped establish for the first time last summer, takes place this June and is aimed at encouraging young people to study and follow careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) – subjects that will be crucial in our country’s fight to maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding global market.
Supporting Crawley STEMfest is also a great opportunity for companies to promote their organisation to the best engineers and scientists of the future – as well as showcasing how successful our local businesses are – and for schools, colleges and other community organisations to have a unique opportunity to forge links with local firms.
The outreach department of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Brighton, in partnership with Crawley Borough Council and Central Sussex College, Crawley STEMfest 2013 offers schools and colleges, STEM Clubs and the community in general a wide range of hands-on activities that give young people an insight into STEM disciplines.
In workshops and talks provided by local businesses, students can, among other things:
l Meet geophysicists who use seismic data to search for the Earth’s hidden oil and gas reserves;
l Learn how to design 3D shapes and scan 3D models;
l Build their own robots;
l Make their own Fairtrade soap; and
l Learn how science helps sportsmen and women perform better.
The festival culminates on 2nd July with the Big Bang South East fair, at The Hawth, part of the biggest single celebration of STEM for young people in the UK.
CGG, the world’s leading geophysical company, which has had a base in Crawley since 1996, will again be the main sponsor of Crawley STEMfest and the Big Bang South East, and I have liaised closely on the concept with the Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Michael Fallon MP, who is fully supportive. If you would like to become involved in Crawley STEMfest 2013 and the Big Bang South East, or would like to know more, visit www.crawleystemfest.co.uk, telephone 01273 644178 or email crawleystemfest@brighton.ac.uk.