Big Bang Fair

Big Bang Fair
Name	Big Bang Fair
Genre	Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics fair
First	2009
Frequency	Annual
Venue	NEC Birmingham
Country	United Kingdom
Organiser	EngineeringUK
Attendance	67,000 (2019)

Big Bang Fair The Big Bang Fair is a major annual UK event connecting young people with careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through interactive exhibits, hands-on activities, and employer engagement. It brings together schools, industry partners, professional bodies, universities, charities, and government departments to showcase innovations and pathways to STEM professions. The Fair serves as a national focal point for initiatives by organizations such as EngineeringUK, Royal Academy of Engineering, Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry, and STEM Learning.

Overview

The event presents live demonstrations, career advice, and competitions from institutions including University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London, University of Manchester, University of Edinburgh, King's College London, London School of Economics, University of Bristol, University of Birmingham, University of Southampton, University of Leeds, University of Glasgow, University of Sheffield, Newcastle University, University of Nottingham, University of Warwick, Queen Mary University of London, Durham University, Keele University, Swansea University, University of Liverpool, University of Leicester, University of Exeter, University of York, University of St Andrews, Cardiff University, University of Aberdeen, University of Stirling, Queen's University Belfast, University of Bath, and Loughborough University. Exhibitors span employers such as Rolls-Royce, BP, Shell plc, BAE Systems, Airbus, Siemens, Arup, GSK, AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Babcock International, National Grid plc, Thales Group, BT Group, Vodafone, Vodafone Group, Microsoft, Google, Amazon (company), Facebook, Apple Inc., Intel, NVIDIA, ARM Holdings, DeepMind, IBM, Oracle Corporation, SAP SE, Capgemini, Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY.

History and development

The Fair originated from collaborations among bodies including EngineeringUK, Royal Academy of Engineering, The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Royal Society, Science Museum, Wellcome Trust, Royal Society of Biology, British Science Association, Nesta, Tech Nation, UK Research and Innovation, Department for Education (UK), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, House of Commons, House of Lords and regional devolved administrations. Early iterations drew on models from events such as Glasgow Science Festival, Cheltenham Science Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival and initiatives like National Science and Engineering Week. Over time the Fair scaled from regional showcases to a centralized national showcase at venues such as National Exhibition Centre (Birmingham), adapting to partnerships with bodies including City of Birmingham stakeholders and transport providers like Network Rail and HS2 proposals.

Organisation and funding

Organisation is led by EngineeringUK with governance input from advisory panels comprised of members from Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics, The Institution of Civil Engineers, The Royal Society, TechUK, The British Science Association, STEM Learning, City & Guilds, T-levels representatives, and education unions such as National Education Union. Funding streams include corporate sponsorship from multinational firms such as Rolls-Royce, BP, Airbus, GSK, AstraZeneca, Siemens, philanthropic grants from foundations like Wellcome Trust, Alan Turing Institute collaborations, and public sector sponsorship from entities including Department for Education (UK), UK Research and Innovation, and devolved governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Delivery partners include museums and universities, careers services like UCAS, and training organisations such as City & Guilds and Institute of Leadership & Management.

Events and activities

Activities include engineering challenges, robotics workshops, coding sessions, chemistry demonstrations, health science simulations, aerospace exhibits, renewable energy demonstrations, and careers panels featuring professionals from NHS, British Airways, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, British Antarctic Survey, SpaceX-aligned outreach, and space agencies including European Space Agency and links to UK Space Agency. Competitions such as the National STEM Competition, CREST Awards, and robotics contests are hosted alongside showcases by learned societies like Royal Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Institute of Physics, Royal Astronomical Society, British Ecological Society, Institute of Biology, Chartered Institute of Building, Royal Institution, Royal Society of Biology, and Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Workshops come from university outreach teams including those from Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Natural History Museum, London, Science Museum (London), Imperial College Outreach, and specialist centres like CERN-linked programmes and European Southern Observatory educational initiatives.

Impact and outreach

The Fair targets pupils aged 7–19 and works with schools across regions including Greater London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Tyne and Wear, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, Essex, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Northumberland, and Isle of Wight. Evaluations by independent analysts and policy think tanks such as Nesta, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Nesta Challenges, Resolution Foundation, and academic studies at institutions like University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University College London, University of Manchester, and LSE indicate influence on STEM subject uptake, employer engagement, and careers awareness. Partnerships with charities including Young Enterprise, Girlguiding, Girls Who Code, STEMettes, Papercraft Heroes, The Prince's Trust, National Citizen Service, and outreach programmes with BBC and Channel 4 broaden media reach.

Awards and recognition

The Fair and its partners have been acknowledged by bodies such as House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, British Science Association, Nesta, Association for Science Education, City of London Corporation, and corporate CSR awards from firms including Rolls-Royce, BP, GSK, Siemens, Airbus, BAE Systems, and Accenture. Individual educators and outreach leads involved with the Fair have received honours including Order of the British Empire, fellowships of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society fellowships, and awards from the Association for Science Education and STEM Learning.

Category:Science festivals in the United Kingdom