The Big Bang Fair Explained

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair was founded 2009.^{[1] [2]} The Big Bang Fair is the United Kingdom’s largest celebration of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) for young people, and is one of the largest youth events in the UK.^[3] The Fair takes place annually in June.^[4]

The Big Bang programme exists to bring science and engineering to life for young people.^[5] The Big Bang mission is to showcase surprising possibilities and connect young people to inspiring role models in STEM.^{[6] [7]}

It is led by EngineeringUK in partnership with over 200 organisations across government, industry, education and the wider science and engineering community.^[8]

Since 2014, The Big Bang Fair has been hosted in the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.^[9] The Big Bang Fair consists of hands-on activities, workshops and live shows, designed to inform and inspire young people aged 11 to 14 to learn more about careers in science, engineering and technology.^[10]

In 2024, The Big Bang Fair will take place on 19 to 21 June.^{[11] [12]}

Criticism

The Big Bang Fair has been criticised by NGOs such as the Campaign Against the Arms Trade^[13] and Friends of the Earth due to the heavy involvement of arms manufacturers and fossil fuel companies at the event. The event has been described as being a PR stunt rather than being a genuine attempt to educate children and get them involved in STEM in future. Furthermore it has also been criticised for presenting a "distorted view of the value of science" in reference to the involvement of arms manufacturers and oil companies.^{[14] [15] [16]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: About us . The Big Bang Fair . 5 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110317154842/http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/about_us.cfm . 17 March 2011 . Launched in 2009, The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair...2010 took place in Manchester over three days in March.
2. Web site: About . The Big Bang . 4 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090722022239/http://www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/about_us.cfm . 22 July 2009.
3. Web site: The Big Bang - The Big Bang . 2024-03-26 . www.thebigbang.org.uk . en-GB.
4. Web site: The Big Bang Fair - The Big Bang . 2024-03-26 . www.thebigbang.org.uk . en-GB.
5. Web site: The Big Bang EngineeringUK . 2024-03-26 . www.engineeringuk.com . en.
6. Web site: The Big Bang EngineeringUK . 2024-03-26 . www.engineeringuk.com . en.
7. Web site: Leevers . Hilary . 2024-03-06 . Guest blog: We must support careers education to secure the future workforce . 2024-03-26 . The Engineer . en.
8. Web site: The Big Bang EngineeringUK . 2024-03-26 . www.engineeringuk.com . en.
9. Web site: The Big Bang Fair 2024 - 19 to 21 June - The Big Bang . 2024-03-26 . www.thebigbang.org.uk . en-GB.
10. Web site: EngineeringUK . 2024-01-31 . Inspire a love of STEM at The Big Bang Fair 2024 . 2024-03-26 . FE News . en-GB.
11. Web site: The Big Bang Fair 2024 - 19 to 21 June - The Big Bang . 2024-03-26 . www.thebigbang.org.uk . en-GB.
12. Web site: 2024-02-01 . Big Bang Fair returns to Birmingham NEC in June . 2024-03-26 . The Engineer . en.
13. Web site: CAAT - Campaigns - Arms Trade Out! - Science - Big Bang Fair. Campaign Against Arms Trade. 2016-10-05.
14. News: The Big Bang Fair: a depressing vision of science and engineering. Bell. Alice. 2013-03-18. The Guardian. en-GB. 0261-3077. 2016-10-05.
15. News: The Big Bang Fair puts PR above education. Bell. Alice. 2014-03-26. The Guardian. en-GB. 0261-3077. 2016-10-05.
16. News: Big Bang Fair kicks off today with thousands of students expected. Brown. Tim. 2014-03-13. The Manufacturer. 2018-01-05. en-GB.