IET launches Faraday 08/09 – the award-winning resource for teachers of science, design and technology, engineering and maths

11 September 2008

The Faraday 08/09 website is now online and the programme is launched today (16.00hrs) at the Emirates Stadium, a fitting place as the theme this year is ‘Engineering in Sport’. Faraday is an online resource from the IET for schools, linked to the curricula, which aims to inspire students and help those who are trying to reach them.

It is named after Michael Faraday, one of the greatest innovators and communicators of his time. The IET holds in its archives collections of his papers which were donated by the family. Faraday was the son of a blacksmith, his early years were hard and he had little formal education. He himself said, “My hours out of school were passed at home and in the streets.” Apprenticed to a bookbinder, he began to read the books he bound and became interested in science, especially chemistry and electricity. The rest, as they say, is history as the father of electricity lit up the world.

IET President John Loughhead, speaking at the launch, said “When we look at Michael Faraday in the late eighteenth century, it is interesting to wonder who would Faraday be today? Faraday could be that noisy one at the back of the classroom whose mind is so active it’s sometimes seen to be a nuisance or that quiet one who hardly speaks and does not contribute to class discussions. Faraday could be that boy or girl on the street who doesn’t know which direction to take and is restless and likely to get into mischief.

“The IET Faraday 08/09 programme is designed to demonstrate the excitement and value of engineering as a career. The IET introduced it to support the efforts of dedicated teachers who not only encourage this during their working hours but also give up so much of their spare time to motivate young people. There is a growing acceptance that, despite improved exam results this year, we need more young engineers and because of this demand, there has never been a better time to choose engineering or one its associated disciplines as a career.

IET chief executive, Robin McGill, said, “Engineering harnesses energy to illuminate the world, providing heat and transportation and turns raw materials into necessities and luxuries. The people who do this are the engineers, from the ‘doers’ who build, run and maintain the systems to the ‘thinkers’ who design and develop solutions, direct projects and manage people.”

“If we can all look for the Faraday factor in the children with whom we come into contact, we can help give them the opportunity which will change the world and which, in turn, changes the world in which we live. It is up to us all to show them the light – which we can, thanks to Michael Faraday.”

On a more formal note: The materials have primarily been designed for KS3, GCSE and the new Engineering Diploma and include an extensive range of support materials to fit all UK curricula. The new website with a theme of ‘Engineering in Sport’ will feature some specially made films based around cutting edge sports technology and the engineers behind it, with associated flexible teaching and learning materials. The site also offers an interactive 3D game, a blog and the chance to win some fantastic prizes by entering the Faraday competition. In addition to this, schools from all over the UK will be invited to send teams of Year 8 students to participate in locally held Faraday Engineering Challenge Days. Three teams will be chosen to take part in the national final, which will be held in London during the first UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair in March 09. To find out more about this year’s IET Faraday, visit our website at www.theiet.org/faraday.

Media enquiries to:

Robert Beahan
IET Press Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0) 7590 776281
E: rbeahan@theiet.org

Mary Donovan
IET Head of Communications
T: +44 (0)1438 765587
M: +44 (0) 7515 065961
E: mdonovan@theiet.org