Teachers from Bracknell and Wokingham attend the launch event for the annual Young Innovators Challenge competition

Over 20 teachers from 15 schools across the two boroughs attended the event on Thursday, January 10 at 3M’s UK headquarters in Bracknell.

The annual 3M Young Innovators Challenge competition is run by the technology company 3M and is designed to encourage a new generation of original thinkers.

John Klee, corporate communications manager at 3M, said: “We were delighted to see representatives from so many schools at our launch event – many were familiar faces, keen for their students to take part again.”

This year’s contest includes three new categories including the Mighty Monument Challenge, Slo-Mo Marble Challenge and the Fragile Freight Challenge.

Pupils from the schools taking part will be asked to take complete in a series of tasks that cover the STEM curriculum, they will include building a free-standing structure, solving real life problems faced by communities and designing a product to make life easier for a visually impaired person.

John added: “This ongoing participation demonstrates how highly teachers value the competition as a way of developing their students’ STEM learning, communication, teamworking and other skills.”

All authority schools, private schools, academies and home-educated children from Bracknell and Wokingham are eligible to enter.

The winning school in each category will receive equipment worth £750 and students will also get individual prizes.

John said: “There is plenty of time for teams and individuals to get involved. We look forward to seeing what entrants will come up with, particularly for our new challenges, which garnered significant interest at the launch.”

3M will also enter all participants into the British Science Association’s CREST award scheme. This will give pupils the chance to get accreditation for their work.

Applications close on Friday, March 22 for more information visit www.3M.co.uk/younginnovators.