IHEEM will again be participating in the Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair this year, with the 2011 event taking place at the ICC London ExCel from 10-12 March.
Last year’s Big Bang 2010 took place in Manchester over three days in March, and attracted 22,500 visitors, including over 15,000 children and young people and 4,000 of their teachers, parents, and guardians – a threefold increase over attendance at the first Big Bang in 2009. At the 2010 event (HEJ – May 2010), IHEEM’s main presence was within the “Tomorrow’s Engineers & Scientists” zone, which enabled visitors to find out more about the UK engineering institutes’ role within their particular industries, and the support that they can offer to students considering an engineering/ technology career. A joint IHEEM and Static Systems stand within the “Body Talk” zone on the main show floor (pictured), with the centrepiece a “Ward of the future” display from the latter, also proved a popular show feature. This year IHEEM representatives will again be on hand within the Body Talk Zone to discuss the opportunities for a career in healthcare engineering and estate management on a joint Institute and 3M stand. Here 3M will demonstrate its Electronic Test System (ETS) for porous load sterilisers, “an easy-to-use electronic Bowie and Dick test device which provides objective information on the critical variables of the steam sterilisation process: temperature; time; pressure, and air removal”. Dr Brian Kirk FIHEEM, AE (D), senior technical service specialist, Sterilization and Monitoring, at 3M’s Infection Prevention Division, said: “Getting young people interested in a healthcare engineering career is key to the sector’s future. 3M’s community investment programme is focused on support for STEM education, and we are delighted to be supporting this event, and to be co-hosting a stand with IHEEM.” The Institute added: “3M’s demonstration of its ETS system will give young Big Bang visitors the opportunity to see a really practical, hands-on demonstration of engineering’s contribution to healthcare. While the event’s first two days are primarily intended for groups of youngsters, the third, Saturday 12 March, is a public day, at which people of all ages are encouraged to visit free-of-charge.” Visit: www.thebigbangfair.co.uk for more details and to register.
