Hundreds of school pupils will show off their science skills next week at the biggest exhibition of science and technology school projects in the South West, hosted at the University of Bath.
Secondary school pupils from Bath, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire will be among 30 schools that will bring 150 projects to compete in the Big Bang South West Innovation Awards 2009 on Wednesday 1 July.
Younger primary pupils will face the The Bloodhound K’Nex Challenge. They will have just two hours to solve a building challenge using the popular construction kit.
The pupils will be treated to a circus science show that will use juggling, unicycles, and more to explain how forces work, and discover the science behind air-propelled dragsters, robotics and wind turbines.
A chat show with STEM professionals (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) from Rolls-Royce and a host of other companies will give pupils and their teachers the chance to quiz them about their jobs and career paths.
The STEM professionals from up to 30 companies and organisations across the South West will also judge both competitions. The successful projects will go forward to the National Big Bang event to be held in Manchester next March.
Event organiser John Trickett of Wessex SETPOINT, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, said: “The Big Bang is about bringing young people together to excite and enthuse them about science, as well as celebrating the hard work that has gone into their school projects.”
Organisations supporting the event include: STEM South West, Engineering Technology Board, Young Engineers, British Science Association and Rolls-Royce.