The Big Bang Fair 2024
The Big Bang Fair delivered by Engineering UK is the largest STEM Fair in the UK, all state funded schools are eligible to attend with young people aged 10-13 (Year 6 – Year 8). The Fair aims and ambitions for young people are to showcase surprising possibilities in STEM – Show STEM is for everyone and values diversity.
With the amazing support from CAA STEM Volunteers, we engaged with over 15,000 young people across the three days. In partnership with The Royal Aeronautical Society, The Jon Egging Trust and Aerobility the CAA shared a collaboration stand Generation Aviation and engaged with students using STEM Aviation Activities; My First Flight Computer, an Aviation and Aerospace Riddles Activity, a flight simulator, Lego helicopter hydrogen fuel demonstration and a model jet engine.
The impact:
I wanted to reach out and say thank you, from a very appreciative family, for your teams outstanding efforts at the Big Bang Fair last week.
I was there with my two sons and my eldest, Josiah, enjoyed lengthy and hugely helpful and informative chats with your team. He has come away impassioned and even more determined to forge a career in aviation. Exciting times are indeed ahead!Also, off the back of meeting your colleagues at the fair on Friday he has also just started to build his first jet engine on his beloved 3D printer. Your team really did make a huge impression!
Josiah has also been chosen by RAF Cosford and Norfolk Grumman to be one of 36 state-school Year 9 children to receive a fully funded place on the STAAR Aerospace residency this summer and so we are incredibly proud of him. He’ll hit Year 10 soon and so hopefully by year 12 he’ll be in a really strong place to apply for some apprenticeships. Any thoughts or advice would always be hugely appreciated. – Lydia (mum of one of the students)
Special thanks to; Mark Baker, Colin Greenwood, Chris Malbon, Claire Knight, Bianca Vaghela, Nur Abdul-Hameed, James Bell, Shereen Billings, Yvonne Owour, Akhil Sharma, Sophie Jones, Helen Leadbetter, Jolanta Rekiel-Taylor, Neil Croxford, Stuart Rankin and Dale Harrison for supporting this event and representing the CAA.
The CAA also supported the Big Bang Competition this year with our first ever CAA Future in Aviation Award. This award recognises young people’s innovation, creativity and problem-solving skills in aircraft, drones, and space exploration. This includes creating new designs, meeting the needs of crew members and passengers, and managing our increasingly busy airspace and beyond! We were particularly interested in projects that develop a more safe, sustainable and inclusive aviation industry.
Some project ideas include:
- Finding ways to make it easier for people with specific needs to fly or work in the aviation industry e.g., designing aircraft, building runways and launchpads and helping to manage air traffic.
- Researching and developing greener practices in the aviation industry e.g., developing alternative fuels for planes, improving air traffic control systems and making airports more sustainable.
- Designing and improving drones to help benefit the community.
- Exploring how we use space and manage rocket launches and satellites.
We successfully selected our winner: Accessible travel: is AI the future? And this was awarded to Year 8 student Betsy Ellis from Invicta Grammar School at the Big Bang Fair on 19th June
The CAA STEM Team is incredibly proud of this opportunity, a true example of cross collaboration and demonstrating the CAA values. We are truly making a difference to young people’s lives and in turn the future of this aviation industry.