The third annual Crawley STEMfest – which gives young people the chance to learn about the latest innovations in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) – will be launched next week.
Through a series of fun interactive displays and workshops, it will give young people the opportunity to interact with local businesses and other organisations and to discover more about potential career paths – as well as giving teachers the chance to forge links with local companies.
The festival will take place in schools and colleges through May and June and will involve thousands of young people, and this year for the first time, members of the public can get involved too.
And the 2014 event, which will culminate with the Big Bang Fair South East on 1st July, promises to be bigger and better than ever before
Headline events include:
- “Robot Wars!” – a fun workshop where children (and their parents) build their own mini-robots and take part in various challenges (Crawley Town Hall, 29th May)
- ““Scientists of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Test Tubes,” the latest version of the acclaimed science jamboree from the University of Brighton’s Professor Hal Sosabowski (The Hawth, 17th June)
- Science Theatre: Is the Future Here Already?” – an electrifying demonstration of how the science fiction of the past is becoming the science reality of today (Central Sussex College, 25th June)
Crawley STEMfest 2014 will get under way at a launch event at Oriel High School on Thursday, 15th May, when Crawley MP Henry Smith will welcome guests and outline how, since it was first held in 2012, STEMfest has led to an increase in the numbers of local youngsters studying STEM subjects.
There will be a demonstration of how technology can encourage creative thinking in schools and in the real world.
Crawley STEMfest 2014 is being organised by STEM Sussex, the STEM outreach support department at the University of Brighton, in partnership with Central Sussex College and Crawley Borough Council. Main sponsors are the Crawley-based geophysical company CGG.
Other speakers at the launch event will include Chris Maidment, Chair of Central Sussex College and the Local Economic Action Group (LEAG), Professor Andrew Lloyd, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Brighton, and Mark Collins, of main sponsors CGG.