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Press release: Local schools to take part in UK engineering challenge

IET Faraday Challenge hosted by CSES and Anglia Ruskin University, Wed 18 Jan 2017

Begins: Local schools to take part in UK engineering challenge

Students from King Edward VI Grammar School (KEGS), Westcliff high School for Girls, Westcliff High School for Boys, The King Edmund School Rochford, Colchester Royal Grammar School and Greensward Academy are taking part in an IET Faraday Challenge Day (FCD) sponsored by Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society and Anglia Ruskin University. The students will become real-life engineers for a day when they research, design and build solutions to real engineering problems as part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology's (IET) Faraday Challenge Day on Wednesday 18 January.

One-hundred and forty-seven school and sponsored events are taking place across the UK to host 2016-17 IET Faraday Challenge Days. Up to six teams of local school students will compete at each event to find the best solution to an engineering-related challenge. The events will be free of charge and set up by IET staff and volunteers.

Teams must race against the clock to solve real-life engineering problems based on those actually faced on a daily basis by the Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) team during training as part of the IET's partnership with the 1851 Trust and STEM Crew. The Trust works to enable and encourage young people from a wide demographic to experience sailing, understand the career choices and opportunities in STEM subjects and act sustainably.

Holly Margerison-Smith, IET Faraday Education Manager, said: "Students who take part in the Faraday Challenge Days this year will experience working as an engineer through hands-on and practical engagement with real-life challenges relating to the Land Rover BAR team in the hope that this will give them an insight into the life of a real engineer, the variety a career in engineering can offer and the central role it plays in our everyday lives.

"There is huge demand for new engineers and technicians and we're confident that this will challenge young people's perceptions of engineers and inspire a new generation with digital technology."

The events aim to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by using creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.

Each team member in the winning group will be awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. The top five teams from across the UK will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national final in 2017 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.

Ends

Notes to editors

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET)

  • The IET is one of the world's largest engineering institutions with over 167,000 members in 150 countries.
  • The IET is working to engineer a better world by inspiring, informing and influencing our members, engineers and technicians, and all those who are touched by, or touch, the work of engineers.
  • We want to build the profile of engineering and change outdated perceptions about engineering in order to tackle the skills gap. This includes encouraging more women to become engineers and growing the number of engineering apprentices.
  • For more information, visit theiet.org
  • Follow the IET on Twitter

Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society (CSES)

  • CSES is the hub of Engineering, Technology and Science in Chelmsford, Essex and the surrounding areas.
  • Our objectives and purpose can be summarised in three words: Explore, Educate, Expand.
  • Our mission is to:
    • Develop tomorrow's potential engineers, technologists and scientists by enabling, stimulating and fostering high-quality and inclusive provision for science and engineering in education.
    • Underpin today's network for professionals and those with a general interest, advancing public understanding of science and engineering and their benefit to mankind.
    • Celebrate and preserve yesterday's heritage, particularly that of Chelmsford's renowned engineering and industrial history.

Media enquiries to:

Rebecca Gillick, Communications Executive
T: +44 (0)1438 765618
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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