The Big Bang East Midlands is a free annual event open to 11-18 year olds in the region who have completed a project or activity in any field of science, technology, engineering or maths. If you or your team have worked on an amazing project or invented something new then you should enter! 

This year's event will take place on Wednesday 7th July 2010 at Loughborough University. 

All entrants will have their own stand to present their hard work. Projects will be judged, prizes awarded and the most impressive entries will go on to compete in the National Science & Engineering Competition held at the national event in 2011. 

The Big Bang East Midlands will feature the regional finals of both Young Engineer for Britain and CREST Awards, and schools are invited to enter one or both competitions. Regional STEM clubs wishing to attend and be considered for participation in the national event in 2011 are also welcome. 

Outside of the judging and exhibiting, there will be several hands-on, interactive activities and workshops, allowing you to explore and experience the power of science, engineering and technology. 

To enter and find out more, visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/eastmidlands  

Closing date for entries: 16th June 2010

 

That was the problem posed to Year 8 students from the Anthony Gell School in Derbyshire recently as the school embarked upon its first large scale STEM enrichment project.  Staff from the Science, Design & Technology and Maths departments worked with DEBP’s STEM Team to produce an exhilarating day which centred on the current World Land Speed Record attempt. 

The Bloodhound SSC project aims to develop a car which will travel at over 1000mph, a challenge which sets a significant physical and engineering challenge for the whole team. 

The Anthony Gell students were immersed into the real world of this extraordinary challenge, allowing them to understand the phenomenal maths behind the project, together with the effects of chemical combustion process, the stresses and forces exerted on the car and the driver’s body and the psychological impact. 

All the students then embarked on a programme of design, prototyping, testing and marketing for their record attempts which used a combination of solar cars and rocket cars. 

Sara Barnes, one of the schools Design and Technology teachers said: “The DEBP’s STEM Team support is very much appreciated by us all and I know that a lot of pupils got a lot out of yesterday.  It would be great to make this an annual event and really promote all the STEM subjects within schools, especially when we can link them so successfully”.  

For more information:

www.bloodhoundssc.com 

www.debp.co.uk