Site logo

Creative Tech Fest Basildon 2024 got off to a flying start at first event

After months of hard graft and real collaboration, the first ever Creative Tech Fest in Basildon launched yesterday, and is starting as it means to go on.

_GREENTECH – hosted at Ford Dunton Technical Centre – was organised by always possible and N&E Herts, Essex, Beds and MK Science Learning Partnership, part of STEM Learning.

It brought together over 80 KS3 pupils from schools across Basildon to learn about, and get hands-on with, future technologies that will help with the challenge of climate change. 

The event started with an inspirational talk from award-winning chemical engineer, Yasmin Ali.

Yasmin spoke about her career path and journey – having worked in coal and gas fired power stations, oil and gas, district heating systems, and energy innovation, Yasmin transitioned away from fossil fuels into more sustainable energy systems over the course of her career.

Yasmin has written for the BBC and Metro, featured in TV and radio programmes and completed a British Science Association Media Fellowship with the BBC’s Science Unit.

WORKSHOPS

Pupils were inspired by Drone City to imagine the kind of world they want to live in and how they can use their varied creative skills to create it. They also got the chance to try out being drone pilots!

Attendees were motivated by Essex County Council’s climate team to think about sustainability and carbon cutting, making practical pledges about how they could use their voice – in student council or through advocating for change in their schools.

The University of Essex demonstrated the application of tech in agritech and students learnt about initiatives such as vertical farming.

Case New Holland took students through the design of methane powered tractor parts on CAD software and worked with them to test 3d printed prototypes..

Venue sponsor Ford had participants setting up production lines and understanding the concepts of Lean Manufacturing Process.

Students asked some hard questions of the panellists Cllr Peter Schwier, Luke Wotton from CNH, Bryanna Clare, Drone City, Hannah Neal from Ground Control and Seamus McDermott from Ford.

At the end of the day, the young people were buzzing with the practical ideas they were going to implement in their own lives.

Special shout out to the seven young people who won prizes for participation on the day.

Jimmy (right) was extremely happy with his Raspberry Pi Bird Camera. Find out more about making an infrared bird box with Raspberry Pi’s amazing tech.

Raspberry Pi Foundation will be inspiring young people with Astro Pi Mission Zero workshops and an introduction to Coolest Projects at the sold out Creative Tech Fest _LAB event, which takes place tomorrow (Saturday 10th Feb). _LAB will see hundreds of young people being inspired by, and getting hands on with, new creative tech.

We’re really looking forward to the next 2 weeks of events. A few of the events have tickets left. They’re all free. Hit the button below to check out the programme.