the-BA : BA Press Release

For immediate release

National Science and Engineering Week (9-18 March) is on its way, with plenty of fun opportunities to get involved – this year’s focus is ‘Energy and Climate Change’. Whether you are planning a week of science-related activities for your school or trying out interesting activities in your classroom or home, the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) can offer a wealth of ideas, advice and resources.

Science and Innovation Minister, Malcolm Wicks, urged young people to get involved. Mr Wicks said:

“It’s such a great time to get interested in science and engineering – the possibilities are endless. Things we’d never dreamed would be possible 20 years ago are now part of our everyday lives. Who knows what will be possible 20 years from now and what radical changes and opportunities science and engineering can bring?

“The focus of the week is ‘Energy and Climate Change’ and there’s no better time to be discussing these issues. Climate change is a huge global environmental challenge and science has been critical in helping us to understand it and discovering what we can do to tackle it. Similarly, engineering will be the heart of developing alternative technology and solutions.”

Here is just a taster of what’s available for National Science and Engineering Week 2007…

Working together to combat climate change

Explore your eco-footprint, debate 21st century energy choices or learn about attempts to develop environmentally friendly aircraft. You could even compete to build an energy efficient vehicle or make your own wind turbine. Whatever your interests, there will be abundant opportunities to find out about climate change and the role that we can all play – individuals, businesses and scientists alike – to help develop sustainable living and maintain a healthy planet.

'Meet the Robinsons’

This March, Disney is releasing a fantastic new animated adventure, ‘Meet the Robinsons’, about a young inventor named Lewis who embarks on an amazing and hilarious adventure in an extraordinary city of the future. To celebrate the film’s release and National Science and Engineering Week, the BA is launching an exciting nationwide competition asking children aged 5-14 to design an eco-friendly city of the future. The most imaginative and innovative future city designs in each age group will win a private screening of ‘Meet The Robinsons’ for their class and the overall winner will win a trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Resort Paris. Visit www.the-ba.net/mtr for more details.

Just Add Water!

Become a whiz with water. Find out how to make a hovercraft, filter your own water or even build your own water turbine by trying out activities from the free ‘Just Add Water!’ resource pack available on the National Science and Engineering Week website. Other free challenge packs include ‘Domestic Science’, ‘Colour Chaos!’ and ‘Sixty Second Science’. Find them at www.the-ba.net/nsew.

Running your event

Would you like to run an event but don’t know where to start? The BA can help. We have a host of free resources on our website, providing all you need to know to run an event. These include: where to look for ideas, guides to running and publicising events, and details of how to get funding. Visit www.the-ba.net/nsewresources for more information.

National Science and Engineering Week programme

Don’t forget to let us know about your event. All events can be entered into our searchable, online programme of events at www.the-ba.net/events.

If you don’t have time to organise an event yourself, make sure you find out what’s going on around the country as part of National Science and Engineering Week. You can use the searchable programme to find your nearest events.

All this information and much more can be found on the BA website. So if you need inspiration, make sure you visit www.the-ba.net/nsew.

National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the BA in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board, and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: +44 (0)20 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net

Notes for editors

1. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) is the UK's nationwide, open membership organisation that exists to advance the public understanding, accessibility and accountability of the sciences and engineering. Established in 1831, the BA organises major initiatives across the UK, including National Science and Engineering Week, the annual BA Festival of Science, programmes of regional and local events, and an extensive programme for young people in schools and colleges. For more information about the BA, please visit www.the-ba.net.

2. National Science and Engineering Week will take place from 9-18 March 2007. For more information, please visit www.the-ba.net/nsew.

3. About National Science and Engineering Week

National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science).
National Science and Engineering Week is endorsed and supported by the Government through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In 2007, the BA is working in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) to broaden the scale and scope of the programme and to celebrate the vital contribution that engineering makes to society.
The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) is a registered charity that seeks to promote the vital contribution that scientists, engineers and technologists make to prosperity and quality of life. We work in partnership with business and industry, Government, education and the profession to improve the perception of science, engineering and technology in the UK. The driving force behind these partnerships is the desire to ensure a supply of appropriately skilled individuals to meet the present and future SET skill needs of UK plc. For more information about the ETB please visit www.etechb.co.uk
Energy and climate change will again be a key focus during the week in 2007, building on the success of the Click for the Climate campaign during last year’s National Science Week.
During the week, events are organised throughout the UK by a large and varied range of organisations and individuals including hospitals, schools, industry and museums. Venues range from shopping centres to pubs and churches.
National Science and Engineering Week is aimed at everyone from children and adults to decision-makers and investors and is intended to:
engage and inspire people of all ages with science and technology and their implications,
promote discussion and understanding of what science, engineering and technology can and cannot achieve,
promote knowledge of the scientific method, i.e. how scientists go about their work and reach their conclusions,
promote science, engineering and technology studies beyond the age of 16, and science, engineering and technology as career options.
An essential feature of National Science and Engineering Week is the way it takes science to the public rather than waiting for the public to find science. The week has drawn many scientists into the public domain to discuss their work with interested audiences.

2006 Vital Statistics:

over 2,000 events; from hands-on activities to discussions, tours and online activities
over 660,000 participants at events
high level of public awareness

4. A searchable database of events being held during National Science and Engineering Week is available at www.the-ba.net/nsewprogramme.

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