IET: Shropshire schools part of London 2012 Inspire Day
An engineering challenge in Shropshire today marks UK Inspire Day – a celebration of the London 2012 Inspire programme. There are over 2,700 projects across the UK that have been officially designated as “inspired by the Games” that all do something special in their local communities.
Taking place at Lacon Childe School (in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire) and involving teams from other local schools, the engineering challenge will see students taking up the task of researching, designing and building solutions to real engineering problems.
The event is part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Faraday education programme which includes 56 challenge days across the UK. The events aim to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by encouraging creativity, innovation and problem solving skills.
Dee Halil, IET Education Manager, said: “Students taking part experience hands-on design and practical work giving them a peek into the life of a real engineer, the variety of engineering out there and the central role it plays in our everyday lives. We are confident that this will challenge young people’s perceptions of engineers and the jobs they do.
“The challenge will be unveiled at the event, but with the Olympics just 72 days away, I can say that it will be about finding a solution to a real engineering problem linked directly to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is a great way to show young people the vital role engineering has played in the Olympics.”
Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “UK Inspire Day is a celebration of the Inspire programme and more than 2700 exceptional projects like IET Faraday that have been inspired by the Games to do something special in their local communities.”
The IET Faraday programme is one of the exceptional projects to have been awarded the coveted Inspire mark and became part of the London 2012 Inspire programme that has already given 10 million people across the UK an opportunity to join in with Games-inspired activity and try something new.
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Notes to editors:
About the Faraday Programme:
Each Faraday Challenge Day involves six school teams each made up of six 12 – 13 year old students studying Science, Design Technology and Maths.
Each team member in the winning group will be awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. The top three teams from across the UK will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national final in London in June 2012 to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school.
The Faraday Challenge Days are part of a wider Faraday education programme, made up of a whole host of teaching resources and activities to inspire and attract the engineers of tomorrow.
For more information, visit: http://faraday.theiet.org/
About UK Inspire Day:
It is UK Inspire Day and we are celebrating the London 2012 Inspire Programme and its family of more than 2700 exceptional projects that have been inspired by the Games to do something special in their local communities. They have been awarded the Inspire mark and become part of an exceptional family of projects that have already given more than 10 million people an opportunity to get involved in the Games. This summer the Inspire projects will be holding events and celebrations all over the country. Search for your nearest Inspire celebration and feel the inspiration for yourself. Be inspired. Be part of it. www.london2012.com/beinispired
About the IET:
Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespersons.
The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers with over 150,000 members in 127 countries.
For more information, visit www.theiet.org.
Follow the IET on Twitter.
Media enquiries to:
Robert Beahan, Media Relations Manager
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org
