Nineteen Group has announced a full programme of STEM activities that will take place under the banner ‘Manufacturers & Engineers of the Future’ at Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week on 6th June at the NEC, Birmingham.
Students and apprentices are welcome on both days of the event, but the STEM programme runs on the afternoon of day two.
The STEM programme begins with several keynote presentations. Firstly, taking place in the Design & Innovation theatre at 1.30pm on 6th June is a presentation from EngineeringUK, a not-for-profit whose mission is to enable more young people from all backgrounds to be inspired, informed and progress into engineering. Secondly, at 2pm in the same venue, Richard Noble will discuss how Bloodhound’s education mission is to inspire a generation to become engaged with STEM and explore careers related to it.
Several workshops are also planned, with Coventry University leading two sessions during the afternoon one on Robot Cars that promises to explore how you can develop and innovate the technology behind driverless vehicles and the other on Smart Manufacturing, which is a discovery workshop addressing the question of ‘How can you help make the future of manufacturing intelligent?’
There is a wide range of activities taking place at Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week that are STEM focused. In Hall 5 WorldSkills UK, working with FANUC, is hosting the qualifiers for the 2024 Industrial Robotics competition. Visitors are invited to watch the teams of 16–20-year-olds complete their robotic tasks against the clock.
In Hall 4 Stand A116, Lisl Aerospace is showcasing the various roles and positions within a manufacturing business, from software engineering to quality control to research and development. Plus, interested visitors will be able to get 1-1 guidance with interviews or apprenticeship applications.
Similarly Make UK, an organisation at the forefront of delivering world-class engineering apprenticeships and skills training will be in Hall 4 Stand L21, advising young people about apprenticeships. More support is available from the STEMETTES, an award-winning social enterprise working to support girls, young women and non-binary young people into STEM careers.
As well as the activity aimed at young people, there is also a large representation of them taking part in the exhibition itself. Coventry University, for example, have their degree apprenticeship team, student recruitment team and current students available to chat to and are exhibiting with a theme of AI and future transport engineering. Exhibits will include the award winning IMechE Formula AI Car and Formula Student cars developed and raced by a multidisciplinary team of motorsport, electrical and electronic student engineers. Additionally, the stand will feature unmanned aerial vehicles designed, and flown by aerospace students in national and international competitions. Additional state of the art technologies includes a Hexicoptor and an AI Robot Dog.
To guide STEM focused visitors around Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week, the STEM visitor trail will help in navigating between the most relevant exhibition stands, Solutions Theatres and networking opportunities. The visitor trail can be accessed using a printed map or by using a QR code when entering the exhibition hall.
Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Weekwww.mandeweek.co.uk
