30 June 2017

Students were spoilt for choice at The Big Bang Fair South East, which was sponsored by Coast to Capital and took place at the South of England Showground, Ardingly, on 28th June.

More than 200 workshops, shows and demonstrations shone the spotlight on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) study and career options.

 

Among the stands were Gatwick Airport who helped students to embrace the full range of IT and engineering skills required at the airport in their dedicated zone and CGG who enabled pupils to hear sound through their teeth!

 

Other highlights of the action-packed day included students expanding and deflating marshmallows, using a flight simulator, making lava lamps, building chairs from newspaper rods and meeting awe inspiring reptiles and birds.

 

As well as activities, student attendees were treated to a range of exciting shows. The 'Science Magic' show revealed the science in magic tricks through the ages and Creative Space's interactive planetarium looked at the lifecycle of stars.

 

A huge amount of fun had on the day with serious career messages. Martin Heffer, Board Member of the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, explained the event's regional importance:

 

"It is great to experience the impact our sponsorship had on such an exciting event that reached such a wide range of young minds...STEM skills are a key gap in our region and this event helps address this issue, to ensure that our businesses can recruit and develop the talented workforce of the future."

Congratulations too, to the winners of Gatwick Airport's South East Young Engineer and Scientist of the year: Kent College for the development of a low cost robotic arm and Charlotte Day for her grazing rate analysis project.

Jo Mckinney-Green, Project Manager and Acting Operations Manager, STEM Sussex said "This year was a huge success, the whole day was hands-on, noisy and above all fun! I feel proud that we got so many students and providers together and know that the impact will extend far beyond a single day."

 

"Gatwick was proud to be headline sponsor of this year's Big Bang Fair in the South East and was pleased to see such a good turn out from schools across the region." Paula Aldridge, Community Engagement Manager, Gatwick Airport Limited.

 

The Big Bang Fair South East is organised by STEM Sussex, the outreach department of the University of Brighton. Headline Sponsor was Gatwick Airport limited.

 

For further information about the 2017 Big Bang Fair South East, contact STEM Sussex, tel. 01273 641874 or email stemsussex@brighton.ac.uk.

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