In a showcase of talent and innovation, young minds from across the UK have triumphed at The Big Bang Fair 2024, with standout achievements in engineering and technology earning prestigious awards.
Pacha Pritchard, a Year 12 student from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern School in Cardiff, emerged as the UK Young Engineer of the Year. Her winning entry—a portable pollution monitor designed for schools and residential areas—impressed judges with its ability to provide real-time air quality data using intuitive emoji indicators. Reflecting on her win, Pacha expressed both surprise and elation, emphasizing her project’s goal to raise awareness of environmental issues among younger generations.
Meanwhile, a team of teenagers from Liverpool’s The Blue Coat School secured the inaugural title of UK Young Technologists of the Year. Archit Chinnari, Ayush Shah, Benedict Dooley, Ciaran Scanlan, Rakesh Vaddepalli, and William Dan devised a groundbreaking solar panel system that tracks the sun’s movement, boosting energy production by 16% annually through innovative automation technology.
Further accolades included the Big Bang Junior Engineering Award, claimed by St Aidan’s High School in Lanarkshire for their sustainable ‘Theme Park for the future’ concept integrating kinetic, solar, and wind power solutions. Additionally, Keon Robert from Queen Elizabeth School in Barnet earned the Big Bang Intermediate Engineering Award for his hydroponic ‘Green Pot’ design, aimed at fostering sustainable agriculture.
New technology streams introduced this year highlighted the growing influence of innovation in STEM education. The Big Bang Competition also recognized the efforts of Year 7 students from Olchfa School in Swansea for their ‘Remake the waste’ project, promoting sustainable fashion practices. Akhilesh Karthikeyan of Queen Elizabeth School secured the Intermediate Technology Award with his smart food storage solution, designed to minimize food wastage in retail environments.
In the realm of accessible technology, Year 13 students from King’s College London Maths School won the Senior Technology Award for ‘AutoMate’, a chess board utilizing mechatronic systems for inclusive play, incorporating features like eye-gaze-tracking and voice commands.
The Big Bang Fair, held at Birmingham’s NEC from June 19th to June 21st, showcased the achievements of these young innovators. Supported by leading organizations in STEM education such as Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, and Accenture, the event underscored the critical role of young talent in shaping the future of science and technology.
Dr. Hilary Leevers, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK, lauded the winners, highlighting their potential as STEM advocates and innovators. The awards underscored the fair’s commitment to fostering creativity and excellence among young engineers, scientists, and technologists nationwide.