Showcase science ideas – but you’ll have to hurry!

Time is fast running out for school pupils to showcase their dynamic science skills at the KM Bright Spark Awards.

Nominations for the cross-curricular scheme – which incorporates mathematics, ICT, design technology and science – will close at noon tomorrow (Friday).

The awards are designed to make science cool for students, and urge them to innovate and create.

The competition is judged in three categories – Innovation, Investigation and Invention – and both primary and secondary schools are eligible to take part.

All entries will be examined by a leading judging panel and the winning schools will be invited to the annual awards event at Discovery Park, Sandwich, in which they must showcase and pitch their inventions to a collection of Dragons in a Dragons Denstyle format.

The overall KM Bright Spark Awards champions will be awarded a £500 cash prize.

A key partner of the initiative is calling for last-minute entries. Phil Golding of Benenden Hospital Trust, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the awards, and are keen to locate the scientists of the future.

“The scheme strives to get pupils excited about science- based subjects; equipping them with skills and knowledge which could be extremely beneficial later on in life.”

Lisa Craig, events manager at the KM Charity Team which organises the awards, said: “There is no time to waste. We believe it is extremely important to encourage young people to investigate, invent and innovate, and to feel comfortable experimenting with the skills they attain in the classroom.”

The KM Bright Spark Awards are backed by key partners Hectic Lifestyles, Pfizer, Benenden Hospital Trust, University of Kent, Amy Johnson and Herne Bay Project, and Golding Vision (Part of Golding Homes)

To enter and for more information, visit www. kmcharityteam.co.uk/schools/ brightspark/

Phil Golding and staff at Benenden Hospital Trust are supporting the KM Bright Spark Awards