How Young Students Are Using Science And Technology To Shape The Future At The Big Bang Competition

Ever thought about how your school project could end up being shown off in Parliament? It sounds a bit like something from a film, but that’s exactly what happened for Elsie Neale, a student from Stockton-on-Tees. She was invited to Westminster to showcase her incredible project from The Big Bang Competition, proving that young people have some seriously big ideas about the future. It’s a brilliant example of how science and technology aren’t just for classrooms and labs; they’re about solving real-world problems and making a proper difference. And it all starts with a single, clever project.

A big idea makes a big bang in Parliament

Imagine walking into the Houses of Parliament, not for a tour, but to present your own work to MPs and experts. That's the reality for a group of talented students, including Elsie Neale from The Grangefield Academy. She wasn't alone; she joined 20 other students from across the country for a special event called Big Bang at Parliament. This wasn't just any school trip. It was a celebration of creativity and smart thinking in STEM – that’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths.

Elsie’s project had a catchy and powerful title: ‘Changing the world is as easy as changing what we eat’. So, what was it about? Basically, she did a deep-dive into how farming affects our planet. She looked at all the research out there (what experts call a 'literature review') to compare the environmental footprint of animal-based diets with plant-based ones. Think about the difference between the land and water needed for a burger versus a bean-based one. Her project made people stop and think, showing how our daily food choices have a huge environmental impact.

It’s clear she had a great time, too. Elsie commented,

“It's exciting to be here! A lot of people have been amazed about how diets affect the planet. The Big Bang Competition was really fun. I would like to do science in the future.”

It's this kind of spark that gets young people excited about potential careers in science.

More than just a competition, it's about the future

The event wasn’t just about showcasing one project; it was a platform for many young scientists and future engineers to shine. The students were joined by some important people from the worlds of politics and technology, including representatives from Siemens, who support the Big Bang Competition. It shows just how seriously these young people's ideas are being taken. It's an important event for the education of our next generation of innovators.

Another inspiring young person, Grace Palmer, a T Level student from Solihull and a senior engineering winner in The Big Bang Competition 2025, gave a speech. She stood alongside some pretty influential figures, including Toby Perkins MP and Dame Chi Onwurah MP, who are both involved in important parliamentary committees related to the environment and technology.

Toby Perkins, the Labour MP for Chesterfield, was full of praise for all the young entrants. He said,

“Huge congratulations to all The Big Bang Competition entrants that are here today. I hope that passion for STEM that has been unleashed through this project will stay with you going forwards in your careers.”

“We’ve got a really amazing array of different ideas on display – they cover such a range which demonstrate the breath of directions in which STEM careers can now take you.”

This highlights how a background in maths or engineering isn't just one type of job; it can lead to all sorts of exciting careers.

Why these student projects give us hope

It’s one thing to be clever, but it’s another to use those smarts to do some good. And that’s what really stood out at the event. Dr Hilary Leevers, the Chief Executive of EngineeringUK (the organisation behind the Big Bang), thanked the students for their hard work and passion. She encouraged them to “keep doing what you are doing - which includes your fantastic STEM work, but also your commitment to sharing your stories and enthusiasm with others, especially your fellow students.”

But she also pointed out something really special about the projects themselves. Dr Leevers commented,

“I would like to draw everyone’s attention to the nature of the projects that are here. You’ll see how incredibly purposeful and caring they all are - targeted at improving physical and mental health, environmental sustainability, and safety and accessibility. The fact that the students made these choices makes me feel so optimistic for the future, as much as the actual skills that we are seeing.”

So, these young people aren’t just building robots for fun (though that’s cool too!). They’re thinking about:

• How to make the world greener
• How to improve people's health
• How to make things safer and easier for everyone to use

This shows that the next generation of engineers and scientists is focused on making a real, positive impact. The future looks bright with these young minds leading the charge.

Connecting young talent with real-world skills

There’s a lot of talk in the media about the UK needing more people with technical skills. This event really hammered home why it’s so important to get young people interested in STEM subjects. Dr Hilary Leevers didn’t miss the chance to talk about this skills shortage. She called on companies to “continue to give young people opportunity to understand what careers are out there and provide older students with work experience and industrial placements.”

Think about it – it’s hard to want to be an engineer if you’ve never met one or seen what they actually do. Work experience can change everything. She also had a message for the politicians in the room, asking them to “ensure that working with younger students is a key part of skills strategies”. This is about building a proper pipeline of talent for the future, starting right from school. The whole point of organisations like EngineeringUK is to create a strong future for the country's technology and engineering sectors.

Fancy getting involved? The Big Bang is waiting

Feeling inspired by Elsie and the other students? The good news is that this isn't some exclusive, impossible-to-reach club. The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition is for anyone aged 11 to 19 who has a cool project in any area of science, technology, engineering, or maths. It’s a chance to build skills, grow in confidence, and maybe even find a passion that turns into a career. Entries for The Big Bang Competition 2026 are now open, so it's the perfect time to start thinking about a project.

And if you just want to see some amazing stuff, The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair is the place to be. It's the biggest STEM celebration for young people in the country, happening from 17 to 19 June 2025 at The NEC in Birmingham. It’s a massive fair packed with talks, workshops, and hands-on exhibits. You can meet real engineers and scientists and get a feel for what their jobs are really like. It’s a brilliant way for young people to see the incredible opportunities a future in STEM can offer.