How a Big Bang award opened the door to industry
Winning an award at The Big Bang Competition can be about much more than recognition. It can help young people build confidence, develop new skills and connect with industry.
For Daniel Brownlee and Luke Johnston from Cookstown High School, success in the Siemens-supported UK Young Technologists of the Year award led to an opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom.
The pair developed TrailTalk, an app that combines GPS, voice transcription and AI. Helping people discover places through the experiences and stories of others, rather than just ratings.
Alongside fellow GCSE digital technology classmates, they met industry professionals and explored careers in technology. Through workshops, they also learned more about sustainability, innovation and the skills employers value.
In this guest blog, teacher Robert Johnston shares highlights from the visit. He reflects on the impact the experience had on the students and what they gained from seeing STEM careers up close.
Could your students be next?
The Big Bang Competition is open for entries. Explore this year's awards and discover how your students can showcase their STEM achievements.
Take technology further
If your students are interested in how AI is shaping our future, they can explore this topic through the Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Smart Support challenge. They could turn their idea into a STEM project and enter it into The Big Bang Competition.
“The day brought classroom learning to life through presentations, careers discussions and engaging team activities."
— Robert Johnston, Head of ICT, Cookstown High School
