Intertek experts working to inspire young people to pursue careers in science and engineering
05/08/2013
Intertek, a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide, has helped to inspire future generations of scientists through its recent participation in ‘The Big Bang’ event at The Roundhouse in Derby.The Big Bang event, aimed at 12 to 19 year olds, brings together local government, education institutions, industry and the wider science and engineering communities to encourage more young people to consider a career in science or engineering. Part of an on-going education programme, this was the third East Midlands event, with similar events being held in the West Midlands and in London.
Intertek helps customers to succeed in a changing global marketplace by reducing risks, strengthening their brands and improving business performance and efficiency. Intertek’s own expertise includes scientists, consultants, technicians and engineers with backgrounds across many different disciplines, including chemistry and chemical engineering, industrial engineering, biology, food science, electrical engineering, health and environmental sciences and research doctorates.
Every second, millions of people around the world are said to interact with an Intertek-tested product, asset or process. Chetan Parmar, part of Intertek’s UK Executive Board, said of the project: “Over recent years, science as a career choice seems to have fallen out of favour for many young people, but it’s interesting, exciting and genuinely makes a difference in the world. Science isn’t just formulae and equations in text books – the Big Bang event gives young people a chance to see practical science, used in the real world, making a difference to our communities.”
Technicians were on hand to demonstrate a range of non-destructive testing techniques that are used to test materials and components, from the routine testing undertaken on heat transfer assemblies in the power stations that provide electricity to the testing of aircraft engine turbine blades, checking for defects and irregularities. Students also had the opportunity to look through powerful microscopes at familiar objects but magnified 40 times, for example a fly and a strand of human hair. They were also able to enter a competition to identify an object that had been magnified 650 times. On display was an aero engine turbine blade, a section of an aircraft wing and an aero engine oil filter, with examples of the type of debris that could be found in an oil filter and the typical testing and inspection that Intertek NDT would undertake for its customers.
Phil Morris, Intertek NDT Operations Director, commented: “We were so pleased to be involved with the East Midlands Big Bang event. The venue was fantastic, the whole day was well organised and the responses and discussions we had with children of all ages showed that there certainly is interest in science and technology as a career choice. We are hoping that it was also of interest to those responsible for guiding and teaching pupils and students to demonstrate to them the importance of science and technology in shaping the future success of Britain.”
The event was sponsored by Derby City Council, University of Derby, Derby College, Institute of Physics and RSC (Royal Society for Chemistry) and the organisers of the event, By Design Group, estimate that the attendance would have been approximately 1600 students from schools across the East Midlands. The event was held in the world’s oldest steam locomotive roundhouse workshop, which was renovated at a cost of £48 million in 2009. Built in 1839 by George Stevenson, the 16-sided building still houses the large turntable on which locomotives were manoeuvred for repair and has now been designated a Grade II listed building.
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