The Big Bang Fair, the UK’s largest science and engineering event for young people, is to be awarded the 2012 Rooke medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering in recognition for its work promoting industry careers.
The fair, led by EngineeringUK, aims to communicate the excitement of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Since the first event in 2009 there has been significant growth in attendance at the fair from 6,500 in its first year to 56,000 in 2012 at the NEC in Birmingham.
EngineeringUK chief executive, Paul Jackson said: “The fact that a careers fair can attract attendance larger than most Premier League crowds is testament to the fair’s ability to capture public imagination.”
Over 170 organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors collaborated at the 2012 event to encourage young people to take up STEM-based careers.
Robert Kirby-Harris, secretary general at the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, nominated the fair for the award.
“The Big Bang Fair has fostered strong links between industry, education professionals and the public sector to the extent that it has reached long-term sustainability,” said Mr Kirby-Harris.
“It has built brand awareness on a national and regional political and media scale and is in the process of transforming through its physical, web and media presence in to a full year operation.”
The medal will be awarded at the Royal Academy of Engineering’s annual awards dinner at the Royal Opera House on June 26.
