Eastside’s Millennium Point Trust has officially launched its brand new Young Innovator Prize initiative.
Unveiled to the city region’s VIPs on Thursday 6th November at Millennium Point, the initiative will see the Trust sponsor a young person from Birmingham through a three year undergraduate degree at Birmingham City University in the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment (CEBE), which is resident in Millennium Point.
The prize-winner will also gain experience in the workplace through a summer placement with Millennium Point.
In collaboration with the British Science Association, STEMNET and the Association of Science Education, Millennium Point has identified five schools in Birmingham whose Year 13 pupils would benefit most from financial assistance. Participating schools will be announced in the new year.
Philip Singleton, chief executive at Millennium Point says: “With the youngest population of any city in Europe, Birmingham needs to act to ensure its young people are not missing out on any opportunities to learn.
“The Young Innovator Prize is part of Millennium Point Trust’s ambition to be socially relevant and engaged with the future of learning and creativity in Birmingham and beyond. I hope it inspires young people to study STEM subjects at university and encourages prominent organisations to support the next generation’s ambitions and ideas.”
The schools will each nominate two students who they believe should win the prize and these ten students will go on to present in the live final during British Science Week, which takes place 13-22 March 2015.
The students’ work will focus on areas of science, technology and engineering with themes including Nanotechnology, Robotics, Sustainability, Future Energy, Feeding the World and Space Exploration.
Kate Bellingham, guest speaker at the launch and former presenter of Tomorrow’s World, says: “We say that a route into engineering is open to all, but there’s no doubt that it’s easier for some than others. What’s so great about Millennium Point’s Young Innovator Prize is that it targets those who may not have that opportunity. The prize has the potential to make a widespread difference not only to the final winner but also to the other entrants who will hopefully be seen as role models within their schools.
“Studying STEM subjects is a great way to inspire students and provide a great pathway for themselves and the next generation.”
Katherine Mathieson, director of the British Science Association, comments: “We are pleased to support this new prize from the Millennium Point Trust, which is aimed at providing opportunities for students from under-served communities to engage with science, enjoy science and continue to study science in the future.
“We look forward to seeing the project progress over the coming months and meeting the students at the finale event in March next year.”
To follow the progress of the prize and participants, visit www.mpyounginnovator.co.uk.