Inspirational prize for STEM Inspiration Award winners

2 Nov 2018 12:01 PM

The outstanding efforts of individuals and organisations up and down the UK to inspire young people to study STEM subjects were yesterday (1 November 2018) celebrated at the STEM Inspiration Awards at the House of Lords. The Science and Technology Facilities Council is sponsoring an inspirational trip to CERN for the winners.

Organised by STEM Learning, the awards ceremony recognises companies as well as individuals who put energy, enthusiasm and resources into engaging with young people through a wide variety of activities that often transform their perceptions of STEM careers.  

Science and Innovation Minister Sam Gyimah yesterday said: “The UK is an innovation superpower, and to build on this strength, we need to nurture young talent. Today’s winners have inspired young people to see how fulfilling and exciting STEM careers can be.

“From driverless cars, to new medicines, and tomorrow’s games consoles – exciting projects in our economy need scientists, tech experts and mathematicians to bring them to life and we are boosting learning opportunities in STEM subjects through our modern Industrial Strategy.”

Professor Mark Thomson, Executive Chair of STFC yesterday said “This is the seventh year that STFC has sponsored the STEM Inspiration Awards.  By providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a behind-the-scenes visit to CERN, we aim to inspire the inspirers!”

During the visit to CERN next year, the award winners will have the chance to see one of the experiments on the Large Hadron Collider as well other laboratories and workshops.  They will also meet UK technicians, engineers and physicists who have followed a range of career paths to work on the frontiers of science at CERN.

The sponsorship of the STEM Inspiration Awards is part of STFC’s ongoing partnership with STEM Learning to support and encourage public engagement with STEM.

More information on the awards, including details of the nominees, is available on the STEM Learning website.

Notes to editors:

This year STFC also is supporting the Year of Engineering is a government campaign, which celebrates the world and wonder of engineering.

From spaceships to ice skates, the bubbles in chocolate bars to life saving cancer treatment, engineering touches every part of our lives. However, not enough young people – especially young girls – think it’s a world for them. As a result, the industry is struggling to recruit future talent. What’s more, young people are missing out on the chance to make a positive difference to both their futures, that of the planet and everything that calls it home.

For further information visit the Year of Engineering website.