Record breaking Big Bang science and engineering fair comes to campus

This year, in addition to the interactive exhibition arena, featuring over 80 local and national organisations, 2000 plus students, 150 student project competitors and more than 100 judges, there will also be an attempt to break the UK record for teaching a 'mega class' - totalling 1,100 students! 

If record-breaking lessons were not enough, The Big Bang South West also aims to be the first ever 'zero to landfill’ waste Big Bang event, thanks to the involvement of a local waste management company, Devon Contract Waste. 

Schools and Colleges in the South West have been working hard preparing their project entries for the Big Bang. The creative mix of innovative topics include the design and construction of a quad-copter, the production of a biofuel using school canteen waste, and a surf board wax that changes colour on contact with sewage.  

Organisers, the Education Business Partnership – South West (EBP-SW), have recruited an army of judges to assess the student projects for a range of accolades, some of whom will see their work entered into the national heats of competitions at The Big Bang Fair 2014, such as the National Science + Engineering Competition (NSEC). 

Emma Stephenson, Head of Widening Participation and UK Student Recruitment, University of Exeter added: “We are delighted that the University of Exeter is playing host to the Big Bang South West again this year. It is a fantastic opportunity to welcome so many talented and enthusiastic young scientists to the campus and to help them explore the excitement that studying science, technology, engineering, and maths can offer. 

The event provides a platform to showcase the excellent projects that these students have been engaging in at school and is great way to highlight the opportunities that these subjects offer through innovation and employment.”

University of Exeter researchers and participating organisations working in computing, nano-technology, engineering, agriculture and particle physics, to name but a few, will be taking part in the exhibition. Supacat, Met Office, Airbus, E.ON, Rolls-Royce, Flybe, Babcock, Sungift Energy, Crayon Architecture and South West Water are just some of the companies who have signed up to take part in the Big Bang South West.

Visit our travel information page for information about parking on campus on Thursday 27 June 2013.