Telegraph Media Group (TMG) today, Friday, 14th March, launches a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) competition, sponsored by Babcock International Group.
A prize of £25,000 will be awarded to the individual or team of students who are the overall winners, alongside a bespoke mentoring programme from a senior engineer within Babcock International Group.
The competition is targeted at undergraduate university and higher-education students who will be able to enter five different categories through a dedicated portal, telegraph.co.uk/stemawards on The Telegraph website from today, 14th March, until the 27th April.
The five categories are Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, Defence, Construction and Environment. The competition is designed to challenge first, second, third and fourth year STEM students to come up with an innovative idea that will help to make positive changes within a particular industry. Five category winners and one overall winner will be selected and announced at the UK STEM Awards, which will be held on 9th June to coincide with Universities Week.
The competition will be supported through a newspaper supplement that will be published on 12th April, a dedicated STEM channel available through telegraph.co.uk/stemawards and further editorial content.
Working alongside the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies (SEMTA), the Higher Education External Relations Association (HEERA) and Universities UK (UUK), The Telegraph’s STEM competition aims to attract both the younger generation and the wider public to the work carried out by STEM-based industries.
Richard Gray, Science Correspondent, The Telegraph, said:
“We are aiming to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers. Hopefully this competition will help to highlight some of the fantastic opportunities that exist within a career in the STEM industries. The Telegraph has an unparalleled pedigree in its coverage of both higher education and industry, so we are looking forward to seeing what imaginative solutions will be put forward by students from across the UK. They are the future of innovation, research and engineering in this country, so we are expecting great things of them.”
Peter Rogers, CEO, Babcock International Group, PLC, said:
“At Babcock, we recognise that the future of our business, our industry, and our country depends heavily on the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers. We’re delighted to support this competition, and excited to witness the engineering talent bubbling beneath the surface in the UK. I want to wish every entrant the best of luck, and to thank them in advance for the contributions they will make, not just to this competition, but to their schools, their future employers, and the future of STEM in the UK. I look forward to meeting many of you in a few months’ time.”
Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive, Universities UK, said:
“UK universities lead the way in using cutting-edge research to develop solutions to global challenges. This year’s Universities Week campaign will celebrate the impact that this research has on business and industry, as well as society and the UK as a whole.
“We are therefore delighted to be partnering with The Telegraph on its inaugural STEM competition for students, whose ideas and innovations represent the future for the continued success of our university research.
“So, if you are studying a science, technology, engineering or maths subject at a UK university, please submit your ideas for how we can help to address some of the challenges faced by business and industry and the country as a whole.”
Donald McLeod, Chair, HEERA, says:
“HEERA is delighted to be supporting this fantastic initiative. The STEM industries have a vital role to play as the country continues to come out of recession; and this competition will enable the UK’s undergraduate students to showcase their creativity, innovation and ingenuity.”
Please visit: telegraph.co.uk/stemawards for further information.