TeenTech welcomed hundreds of schoolchildren to its festival of science, technology, engineering and maths on 30th April – 1st May with a surprise royal guest: King Richard the Third!
For the first time, the Plantagenet king’s skeleton made its appearance at a football stadium – albeit in 3D printed form – to teach young people how science is at the heart of everything they do, thanks to the University of Leicester who played a part in its discovery.
The two-day TeenTech event at Emirates Stadium in London, on 30th April and 1st May helps pupils understand they are the makers and the creators of Tomorrow’s World.
750 primary and secondary school pupils joined 200 scientists, engineers and technologists to get a taste of the careers of the future.
They took part in a line-up of activities and experiments led by some of the UK’s pioneering science and technology organisations – showcasing how their passion and skills could lead to rich and fulfilling jobs in industry.
Richard III joined over 48 science and technology organisations demonstrating the range of dynamic opportunities and pathways across science and technology.
On Tuesday May 1st students from 52 London schools (aged 12/13) took part in a day of challenges and experiments hosted by leading science and tech organisations. Workshops included cyber security, animation, robotics, AI and data science: helping students see how digital skills are increasingly changing the game across every sector and revealing opportunities they may never have realised existed.
The festival was TeenTech’s biggest event to-date.
TeenTech celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. We work face-to-face with over 10,000 young people across the UK every year. Thousands more use TeenTech resources in school.
“It’s just brilliant to see how TeenTech has developed,” says Maggie Philbin. “The enthusiasm for our large event days is so rewarding. This is accentuated by the growing number of schools who then run TeenTech City of Tomorrow or TeenTech Awards projects to capitalise on the new-found passion their students have for Science and Technology. “
“The students are bold and inspiring with so much potential. We connect them with a network of industry leaders who can open their eyes to career opportunities, different pathways such as apprenticeships and to the students’ own potential to enjoy and succeed in these areas”.
“We owe a huge amount to the brilliant companies and universities who come together to make this festival an outstanding catalyst – helping students see how creative and exciting contemporary industry can be.”
Speaking about the event, Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said, “It’s fantastic to see TeenTech bringing some of our brightest minds together for a fun and educational event to inspire the next generation of digital leaders. Initiatives like this are crucial in helping students develop the digital, teamwork and problem solving skills they will need as we build a Britain that is fit for the future.”
Microsoft UK sponsor the TeenTech City Of Tomorrow initiative. Hugh Milward, Director of Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, Microsoft UK said: “We need to empower the young people of today to create the world of tomorrow. TeenTech provides real-world STEM experiences that are hands-on, creative and collaborative, building the confidence to forge a future in STEM. It’s fantastic to see the incredible ideas the students create through TeenTech – their unbounded imagination is inspiring. Our employees get involved in events like TeenTech because they see the tremendous value role-models can provide to young people making decisions about their futures.”
Catherine McGuinness, Chairman of Policy and Resources, The City of London, who have sponsored the event for London schools said : The City of London Corporation is delighted to see Teen Tech City continue. Bringing tech jobs and STEM subjects to life through this kind of collaboration with employers fires the imagination of young learners and sparks aspiration – it’s an excellent way to increase the talent pool and remove barriers to success in tech careers.”
Simon Lucas, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Queen Mary University of London said, “I was really impressed by the scale of the event with hundreds of teenagers engaged in scientific and technical activities, working in teams to solve challenges, having a fun time and learning interesting new things in the process. It was great to see the even gender balance as well, and also the engagement from industry. I think for a long time science and technology were often seen as a bit geeky and boring unless you had a planet-sized brain, but now things are changing and more people are realising that careers in technology are not only dynamic and interesting,but also potentially well-paid and able to shape world events.TeenTech is helping ensure that we get the message out at a stage where students can make a more informed career choice, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.”
Prof Turi King, Professor of Public Engagement, University of Leicester said : “I am passionate about science and in sharing and communicating this passion so that young people are inspired to achieve and realise their full potential. By sharing the wonder of science, I hope many more people are excited by the world of opportunities it presents.”
Gregg Lalle, Vice President of International Sales and Strategy for ConnectWise said “ConnectWise believes that building a better world for generations to come is dependent upon technological advancements. There’s no better way to inspire these advancements than by demonstrating the vast range of careers available to young adults. The work that TeenTech does cannot be overstated and we are humbled to part of their community.”