Page 37 - Gi flipbook - October 2018

IGEM NEWS | Solutions for the Planet

IGEM PARTNERS UP WITH

BIG IDEAS PROGRAMME

Past President Sheila Lauchlan has
acted as a Big Ideas judge xxxxxxx

IGEM HAS BECOME the first national finals held at local universities and the IGEM will be offering its members
charity partner for Solutions for the national final held at the Palace of in these additional regions the
Planet’s Big Ideas programme, helping Westminster, in London. opportunity to join the programme as
to inspire and support the budding The Big Ideas programme builds a business mentor, which is a great
engineers of tomorrow. young peoples’ motivation to learn opportunity for them to enhance their
IGEM has been supporting the Big about STEM and sustainability, own personal development and to
Ideas programme since 2013/14 and is supported by companies that are work with some young creative minds.
its longest-serving partner. leading in these fields internationally. IGEM trustee and Big Ideas
The programme is delivered by Entrepreneurship, teamwork, business programme mentor Glen Judge said: “I
Solutions for the Planet (S4TP), a planning and public presentation skills enjoy watching ideas develop from a
social enterprise that works with are central to the whole process. pencil and paper at a Big Ideas Day to
businesses, schools and communities IGEM Past President Sheila reality, with actual business plans and
to promote education for sustainable Lauchlan, who acted as a mentor in prototypes being produced.”
development, enterprise, and science, Scotland during the 2017/18 Solutions for the Planet CEO Jen
technology, engineering and maths programme and was a judge at this Baughan added: “We are delighted
(STEM) careers for young people. year’s Big Ideas Competition final, said: to welcome IGEM as our first
It currently operates in three “The inspired ideas will knock your national charity partner. We have
regions: the North of England and socks off! I would like to see more of been working with them since the
Scotland, the South East and the our members actively involved. It is a 2013/14 programme in Yorkshire and
West Midlands. great personal development their support for the programme has
Solutions for the Planet’s Big Ideas opportunity and working with the been invaluable.”
programme is an award-winning STEM schools on their Big Ideas is This year’s programme started in
and enterprise programme with a inspirational.” September and will conclude with
focus on sustainability. IGEM has been supporting schools in regional finals in May before the
It is delivered in partnership with North England and in Scotland, and is National Final in late June/early July
companies who support teams of now able to support the programme in in London. ■
KS3/S1-S3 students from local schools the West Midlands and the South East
to generate solutions (or ‘Big Ideas’) to alongside Solutions for the Planet’s
sustainability issues. national partner Tarmac, and regional ■ For more information about
These Big Ideas are submitted to the partners SGN, Brammer Buck & Solutions for the Planet visit
Big Ideas Competition, with regional Hickman and Mears Group and Suez. www.solutionsfortheplanet.co.uk

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