FUTURE TALENTED Autumn Term 2019 - Issue 4 | Page 31

STEM The competition is linked to the curriculum Wearable tech This year, BP invites students to design a piece of wearable tech that will improve lives in the future. Teachers have access to ready-to-go resources, providing everything they need for students to take part. This includes information on the latest advancements in wearable tech, videos, teacher notes and worksheet s to guide the design process. The competition is linked to the science, computing and design and technology curricula (making it highly relevant to Gatsby Benchmark 4) and it’s free to enter. Lucky winners will take part in a hackathon where STEM experts will help bring their ideas to life. The challenges can be completed at a STEM club, in class or as an independent project. With creativity and innovation at the heart of the challenges, even those students who may not naturally gravitate towards science will be inspired. Teachers also have the opportunity to request support from a STEM Ambassador. Blundell’s School, East Devon – 2018/19 winners Last year’s Ultimate BP Ultimate STEM Challenge was to create an innovative design solution for an everyday problem. IT’S EASY TO TAKE PART • D  ownload your ready-to-go packs including two lesson plans, homework activity and competition entry forms. • G  et your pupils to capture their wearable tech idea on the challenge entry form. • S  end your pupils’ entries (by email, fax or post) before the closing date of 14 January 2020. On the day of the final, 11 teams from 10 secondar y school s presented their work to an expert judging panel as part of a BP Ultimate STEM Challenge Science Fair. The judging panel comprised leading scientists and engineers, including Bill Hedges, chief materials engineer at BP, Kerry Baker, strategic initiatives lead at STEM Learning, Hilary Leevers, CEO of Engineering UK and Roger Highfield, director of science at the Science Museum. The winning project was a measuring device for coffee machines that checks the cup size before pouring, which makes it suitable for any cup, cutting down on plastic pollution and one-use cups. The team, from Blundell’s School, won £1,000 to spend on science equipment or field trips, as well as Science Museum goodies. Three other student teams were also rewarded for their innovative thinking and creativity. Bredon Hill Academy and Walton Priory Middle School won the ‘Highly FUTURE TALENTED // 31