The company is sponsoring the 2011 event, organised by Engineering UK, to highlight the diverse and exciting careers which require STEM subjects and the role engineering plays in developing the technology needed to tackle climate change. As young people are the drivers of economic development, Siemens is aiming to inspire them to take up STEM subjects to secure the future pipeline of skilled engineers for UK industry as a whole.  

Andreas J. Goss, UK Chief Executive of Siemens UK and North West Europe, said:

“As a global pioneer in innovative and environmental technologies, Siemens needs bright young people who are fascinated by science. The Big Bang Fair gives us an ideal opportunity to inspire the UK’s next generation of engineers and scientists”. 

Visitors to the Siemens stand GLS in the Go Global area, can play a new interactive game on loan from the Science Museum’s climate science exhibition, ‘atmosphere: exploring climate science’. Siemens is a principal sponsor of the project which includes the online game called RIZK and the gallery. RIZK is all about understanding risk and its relation to our climate: In a world, not too different from our own, a beautiful plant needs resources to grow. But collecting the necessary resources can increase the risk posed to the plant’s wellbeing. Visitors will be challenged to manage the risks, weigh up the costs and successfully grow the plant!  

By touring the stand, young people can learn how Siemens experts use their skills developed through the study of STEM subjects to design, manufacture and install environmental technologies which help cities such as London become more sustainable. Following the computer game, youngsters will have the opportunity to burn off excess energy by challenging their friends to a ride on the OSRAM static bikes to see who can generate the most Kilowatts of energy by lighting up OSRAM light bulbs.  

Engineers at Siemens are also helping cities to become more sustainable by designing, manufacturing and maintaining innovative technologies which reduce transport emissions and energy consumption on the road and rails. These include ‘hybrid drives’ used on some of London’s buses, the infrastructure which enables the latest electric vehicles to be recharged as well as Desiro electric trains which recycle energy. 

Increasing the amount of energy generated from renewable sources, such as wind power, helps cities to cut their carbon emissions. Young people visiting the Siemens stand can build their own miniature wind turbine, as well finding out how Siemens engineers are working on the construction of major offshore wind farms around the UK.  

Improving the environmental performance of buildings through energy efficient lighting, building controls, energy monitoring and waste treatment is another important focus for experts at Siemens. The new Siemens urban sustainability centre, opening in 2012, will be highlighted on the stand. This amazing new building will be a showcase for the latest technologies to enable the world’s cities to be more sustainable.  

Engineers at Siemens are also developing technologies which help cities to address challenges such demographic change through innovative healthcare equipment. Visitors can try out the latest Siemens 4d ultrasound scanner, which works using high-frequency sound waves to display the body’s internal organs in real time. Every day, Siemens medical equipment screens 15,000 women in the UK for breast cancer and there are over 2,000 Siemens ultrasound scanners installed across the UK. At the stand, visitors can try out the technology by scanning a model of a baby. 

Specialists at Siemens are also developing the latest surveillance technologies which keep cities and critical city infrastructure safe. A demonstration with the security camera called 'Sie-Mee'’, will allow visitors to control what is viewed using a joystick and they can even wash Sie-Mee’s face with a windscreen wiper.  

At the end of their tour, young people will be encouraged to share their own ideas about how engineering and technology can answer some of the world’s toughest questions about their future. Their artwork or thoughts will be displayed on the stand for everyone to see.

Finally, as the High Performance Partner of the GB Rowing Team, Siemens is delighted that Rowing Gold Medallist, Mark Hunter, will be on the stand on Friday, March 11^th to talk about how hard work and dedication in school studies and extra curricular activities really does pay off. Siemens is a major supporter of Britain’s most successful sport. The partnership demonstrates Siemens using its innovation and technology to help improve Britain’s medal winning hopes. 

For more information on Siemens at The Big Bang visit: www.siemens.co.uk/thebigbang, or join our group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Siemens-Big-Bang-Fair/251881906710 or follow us on twitter: http://twitter.com/SiemensBigBang

 

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

 

About Siemens in the UK

Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 168 years ago and now employs around 16,000 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.1 billion. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk

In addition to supporting The Big Bang Fair, Siemens is very active in encouraging the development of engineering skills and take-up of Science Technology, Engineering and Maths.    As part of the revival of the apprenticeship route to engineering careers in the UK, Siemens UK currently employs 142 apprentices with more planned for the future. Siemens also sponsors Greenpower, a national education program with schools across UK to generate enthusiasm for STEM via a competition to build electric racing cars, as well as sponsoring WordSkills 2011.

 

About the Big Bang Fair

The Big Bang Fair is organised by Engineering UK - an independent, not- for-profit organisation whose purpose is to promote the vital contribution that engineers, and engineering and technology, make to our society. The Big Bang will kick-off National Science & Engineering Week and is expected to attract around 15,000 students. Other on-site attractions include a range of interactive science exhibits, theatre, workshops and events which represent the very best of British science, engineering and technology. Visitors will also be wowed by experiments, explosions, simulators and live shows, including Sky One's multi award-winning Brainiac and the BBC’s Bang Goes the Theory. 

 

For more information, contact:

Laura Smith
PR Manager 
Siemens plc 
Tel. +44 (0)1276 696374
Mobile : +44 (0)7808 823598
Laura.smith@siemens.com