Shell launches two new initiatives to inspire the engineers of tomorrow
Categories: Technology
Shell has supported science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education in the UK for over 60 years. As part of our on-going work, we’re inviting students across Great Britain to participate in two exciting new initiatives: a brand new schools competition, The Bright Ideas Challenge; and Make the Future London, our four day festival of ideas and innovation.
Your local school could win up to £5,000
What will cities look like in 2050? How will they be powered to be vibrant, healthy and clean places to live? That’s the question being posed to secondary students, aged 11-14, through a new cross-curricular schools competition, The Bright Ideas Challenge.
Teams will use their problem-solving skills and creative thinking to imagine innovative solutions to the energy challenges faced by future cities. The Challenge has been developed to support cross-curricular learning, drawing on topics and skills from various STEM subjects, alongside geography, English, D&T and computing.
Shell has provided teachers with pretty much everything they need to run the Challenge, from student workbooks and a video resource to hands-on engineering activities and teaching notes. There’s no limit to the number of teams a school can enter, so schools should encourage as many students as possible to get involved.11 regional winners will receive £1,500 to super-size STEM teaching at their school, a tablet computer for every team member and funded trips to Make the Future London – a four day festival of ideas and innovation, hosted by Shell and taking place June 30-July 3, 2016. At the national final, one school will be crowned champion, receiving a total of £5,000 to support STEM teaching in their school. With these prizes on offer, there’s every reason for schools to think big!
Talk to a teacher you know
If you know a teacher or young person aged 11-14, tell them and their school about the Challenge. Teachers can download the resources, find out about the national, regional and student prizes, and read the Terms and Conditions at shell.co.uk/brightideaschallenge.
Make the Future London
Make the Future London, a four-day festival of ideas and innovation is taking place at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this summer. The festival opens its doors to students in Years 6-9 on Thursday June 30 and Friday July 1 2016. The event will:
- Showcase bright ideas from around the world: there will be live science shows, hands-on activities and engaging careers experiences to help bring science, technology, engineering and maths to life
- Host Shell Eco-marathon: for the first time in its 30-year history, the competition is taking place in London. Pupils will be able to watch thousands of young engineers from across Europe take part in an energy efficiency challenge, competing in ultra-efficient, self-designed cars of the future. The winners are the teams that go furthest on the least amount of fuel.
- Provide the stage to announce the national winners of The Bright Ideas Challenge: Shell’s new secondary schools competition. With one school set to receive £5,000 to super-size their STEM teaching, the stakes are high!
Register for your free tickets
Any school is welcome to attend and Shell are offering free coach travel to schools in Greater London and within a 10-mile radius of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, but this offer is limited and going fast! Teachers can register at shell.co.uk/mtfschools.
