The ‘Formula 100’ competition is part of the Your Life campaign to raise awareness of the exciting and wide-ranging careers studying maths, science and engineering could lead to, the education minister claimed.
‘Make a real difference’
“To make a real difference we’ve got to change how young people see STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects well before they start their careers and while they are still at school,” Nicky Morgan, secretary of state for education, said at the launch of the campaign on November 10.
“The competition will set out to find the nation’s most creative and aspiring young minds to speculate on the inventions that will make their dream job better.”
To enter the competition, young people – aged 11–18 – must submit a 30-second video answering the question ‘what would make your dream job better?’ on Twitter, Facebook, Vine or Instagram with the hashtag #YourLife #Formula100 and @YourLifeTeam.
Winners will be selected by a judging panel made up of the country’s leading entrepreneurs and the top 100 entrants will become part of the ‘Formula 100’.
Judges hope to discover an invention to rival the significance of the internet, mobile phone, paperclip, plasters or running shoes, Morgan said.
“The panel will be looking for the most inventive, imaginative and life-changing inventions,” she added.
Increase students studying
“It is all part of Your Life’s specific aim to raise the status of STEM subjects and increase the numbers of students studying maths and science by 50% within three years.”
An increase in qualified people could benefit the UK economy and businesses, she added.
Technical, analytical and logic skills are increasingly required in every industry, she claimed.
The UK currently faces an annual shortfall of 40,000 workers with the necessary scientific and mathematical skills, she added.
Prizes include a day with the UK Space Agency, Premier League representatives or the software development team at Sky or a place at the One Young World Summit.
The ‘Formula 100’ and individual prizewinners will attend an awards ceremony at Downing Street in March 2015.
Competition rules
- The competition is open to 11–18 year olds
- Winners will selected from three age brackets – 11–14, 14–16 and 16–18
- Entrants must upload a video starting by saying “I would invent …” to social media or the Your Life website
- Deadline is January 15 2015
- Winners will be announced in February