the-BA : YSEF08

For Immediate Release
4 March 2008

Britain’s rising science and engineering talent will showcase their outstanding projects at the UK Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair on Friday 7 March at the Centre of the Cell in Whitechapel, London.

Projects this year include a prototype camera mast for the Exomars mission rover ‘Bridget’ that will explore Mars in 2013, developed in collaboration with aerospace company EADS Astrium; a ‘thermo spoon’ that alerts users when food is too hot for infant consumption; and a user-friendly technological solution to tackle cot deaths and sleep apnoea.

At this prestigious event, which marks the first day of National Science and Engineering Week, students aged 11-19 will compete for a number of prizes. These include the chance to represent the UK at a number of illustrious international science and engineering fairs in the US, Denmark and Sweden, including Intel ISEF – the world’s largest pre-college science competition, and a place on once-in-a-lifetime voyage on a research ship from New Zealand to the sub-Antarctic Islands.

Over 28,000 students from across the UK participated in the CREST Award Scheme in 2007. 51 projects have made it to the national fair after winning at one of 12 regional finals or via selection by a scientific review committee.

Sir David King, President of the BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science), which organizes the Fair, says: ‘The achievement of the young people who gain these prizes is not just winning an exciting trip or a handsome trophy. In completing their projects they have been able to work like real scientists and engineers, and to find out for themselves how enjoyable and rewarding that can be. It is terrific to see this all come together at the Fair and I hope that many more young people will have this opportunity in the future.’

The BA would like to thank Lloyd's Register Educational Trust, Research Councils UK and AstraZeneca for their sponsorship, and Centre of the Cell for their kind provision of the venue.

ENDS

For further information and contact details for the schools, please contact:

Lisa Hendry, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4946
Email: lisa.hendry@the-ba.net

Note for editors

1. About the BA
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. About the Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair
The Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair 2008 will take place at the Centre for the Cell in Whitechapel, London, on Friday 7 March, the first day of National Science and Engineering Week. For further details, please contact the BA Press Office.

The Young Scientists’ and Engineers’ Fair has grown out of the BA CREST Fair – it continues to celebrate the impressive accomplishments of students participating in the CREST Awards and associated schemes, but this year it will offer additional opportunities for them to gain an insight into what it’s actually like to study and work in science.

The venue
Centre of the Cell is an exciting new science education centre and an online resource for young people and teachers. Centre of the Cell’s website www.centreofthecell.org has been launched and contains curriculum-linked teaching and learning resources, interactive games, unique images, videos, a Cellpedia and Patient Journeys. When Centre of the Cell opens in 2008 it will be the first science education centre in the world to be sited in biomedical research laboratories. The Centre of the Cell pod is dramatically suspended above the labs and will contain an amazing range of interactives, audio-visual experiences, body parts and microscopes.

3. About the BA CREST Awards
CREST (CREativity in Science and Technology) is a project-based award scheme for secondary-age students aiming to recognise and accredit students' achievements in science, technology, engineering and maths. More information is available at www.the-ba.net/crest.

4. About National Science and Engineering Week (7-16 March 2008)
National Science and Engineering Week takes science to the public rather than waiting for the public to find science. 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, with venues ranging from shopping centres to pubs and churches. National Science and Engineering Week is coordinated by the BA in partnership with the Engineering and Technology Board (ETB), and funded by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). For more information, including an online programme of events, visit www.the-ba.net/nsew.

5. The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) is an independent organisation that promotes the vital role of engineers, engineering and technology in our society. The ETB partners business and industry, government and the wider science and technology community: producing evidence on the state of engineering; sharing knowledge within engineering; and inspiring young people to choose a career in engineering, matching employers’ demand for skills. For more information about the ETB please visit www.etechb.co.uk.

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