A new initiative to inspire the next generation of British scientists and engineers was launched today (Monday 12 October) on the Olympic Park in London. All secondary schools in the UK are being urged to take part in a series of ten STEM Challenges which encourage pupils to explore the challenges involved in delivering the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and tackle them using science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills. The STEM Challenge programme is the first to be launched in the practical learning arm of Get Set, the London 2012 education programme.

Co-ordinated by STEMNET on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited (LOCOG), each of the ten STEM Challenges will take approximately one school term to complete and will focus on the behind-the-scenes activities that are making the London 2012 Games happen.

The first challenge focuses on construction and has been set by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the body building the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Games. It is linked to the big build of the London 2012 handball arena which will boast a range of sustainable design features including 80 light tubes and retractable seating to offer a flexible facility after the Games. Construction of the distinctive copper-clad venue started this summer and the foundations are already nearing completion. The second STEM challenge will be set by London 2012 Tier 1 partner adidas and will involve the design of an item of sportswear.

To celebrate the launch of the STEM Challenges, teenagers from Barking Abbey School’s STEM Club saw the Olympic Park big build first hand and met the team in charge of designing and building the handball arena on a tour of the construction site.

Matthew Tosh, STEMNET’s STEM Clubs Network Manager, said: "The STEM Challenges can be completed either in the classroom or as part of an after-school STEM Club. They will get students thinking about the real-life issues that the STEM professionals behind the scenes of the 2012 Games face on a daily basis and also give young people across the country a chance to connect with the Olympic and Paralympic Games between now and 2012.

"The aim is for students to experience STEM skills in practice and understand that science and technology doesn’t just happen in the classroom but is a hugely important and enthralling sector to be involved in. STEMNET hopes that initiatives like the STEM Challenges will help to inspire the next generation of great British STEM professionals."

Alex Brooks, the Design & Technology teacher from Barking Abbey School who accompanied the pupils on their Olympic Park visit and runs the school’s after-school STEM Club, says: "If our students weren’t excited about taking part in the STEM Challenges before today they certainly are now! It’s been great for them to see the impressive amount of work going on at the Olympic Park and really beneficial for them to make the connection between what’s happening here and what they are learning about in class. Hopefully taking part in all this will make them realise that STEM careers are not only important but extremely exciting as well."

Nick Fuller, Head of Education at LOCOG, said: "When London won the right to host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, we made a clear promise to use the power of the 2012 Games to inspire young people. Through Get Set we are able to inspire young people in the broadest possible sense and today’s launch offers practical learning opportunities for young people to get their teeth into a range of real life tasks related to the 2012 Games.

"We are so impressed with the STEM Challenge programme that we have awarded it the London 2012 Inspire mark."

Colin Naish, ODA project sponsor for Handball, said: "This is a great opportunity for the future generation of engineers to be inspired by the Olympic Park big build, which is the largest regeneration project in Europe. It builds on our extensive programme of engaging young people across the UK in this exciting project.
"The handball arena is a distinctive and sustainable venue that will create a great atmosphere for the games and flexible sports facilities in legacy."

The STEM Challenges are open to any school or college in the UK to enter and the first challenge is open for entries from today. All schools in the UK can register for access to the resources and take part. Schools can find out more about the challenges by visiting www.stemchallenges.net for more information.

The closing date for schools to submit their entries for the first STEM Challenge is 11 December. Each school will then be judged when a STEM Ambassador visits their school between 5 and 15 January. Once the judging process is complete, the regional finalists will be announced on 19 January and then a winner for each region will be chosen through an online vote held between 1-5 February. The national final of the nine regional finalists will be held at The Big Bang Fair on 11-13 March, at which the overall winning team will win a tour of the Olympic Park and a trip to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.