Inspiring panel for 2025 unveiled
The UK’s top annual science, engineering and technology competition for young people, The Big Bang Competition, has unveiled its inspiring panel of VIP judges who work across the STEM world.
Young people from all over the UK will present their entries to the VIP judges, who will help decide the next UK Young Engineer of the Year, UK Young Scientist of the Year and UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens.
The VIP judges – 15 in total - work across science, engineering and technology from aviation to AI for the environment and surveillance radar used in search and rescue, to health tech, and include several Competition alumni who have gone on to develop successful STEM careers.
Head Judge for the technology stream is Ainsley Carnarvon, currently working as the Digital Education Strategic Programme Manager at the Heart of Midlothian Innovation Centre. Helena Dodd, the Head Judge for the science project stream, currently works as a scientific adviser for the UK Civil Service and Andy Cowan, is the Head Judge for the engineering stream. Andy is familiar with The Big Bang Competition, having won the title of UK Young Engineer of the Year in 2011. He has since won numerous other prizes and awards in the field of engineering and currently works at Chelton Ltd as the Avionics Chief Engineer, developing cutting edge radio and navigation equipment for some of the world's highest performance aircraft.
The Big Bang Competition judging panel includes aerospace engineer graduate and current Miss UK, Jessica Gagen. A STEM ambassador for the National Numeracy charity, Jessica passionately advocates for improving numeracy skills across the UK. Her work with the charity has helped to raise awareness and drive initiatives that support numeracy education and empowerment.
Science rapper and communicator Jon Chase is also on the judging panel. Jon has presented science for BBC Learning and co-authored books on The Science of Star Wars, The Science of Harry Potter and The Science of Jurassic World. He said, “It’s exciting to have the honour of judging the ideas from the remarkable brains that will shape the future and it’s important that we as a society recognise and nurture the young minds of today.”
The Big Bang Competition also has a stream of sponsored Special Awards, including The UCL Engineering ‘Inclusive Design for a Fairer World Award’ celebrating inclusive and fairer projects, irrespective of age, gender, ability, ethnicity or other factors. MBE para-canoeist Emma Wiggs will work with UCL Engineering and the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) to review and celebrate projects in this category. Emma, a strong advocate for promoting physical activity for all, became the most decorated para-canoeist of all time at the recent Paralympic Games in Paris 2024.
The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition is free to enter and open to young people in the UK aged 11 to 18 in state-funded secondary education, or home educated. Winners will be announced at The Big Bang Fair at the NEC from 17 to 19 June, the UK’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people.
The Big Bang Competition never fails to amaze me! The projects are so impressive and show a real insight into real life problems, and how technology can solve our everyday challenges now and in the future. I am always so impressed with the creativity and knowledge demonstrated by the students; it is a real highlight of the year.
— Judge Mark Wood, Social Sustainability Lead, Great Britain & Ireland, Siemens
