Mar 17 2016
One person’s junk can be someone else’s Robot Orchestra – an engineering pioneer from The University of Manchester will reveal how discarded technology and everyday items from around the home can be put to new and exciting uses.
Professor Danielle George – who is currently building a huge Robot Orchestra from donated machinery and technology – will be providing a sneak preview of a prototype at The Big Bang Fair, the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people in the UK staged at the NEC.
Danielle, who will be assisted on stage by a young STEM ambassador from Manchester, will be hosting her new interactive show on Thursday, 17 March, in front of a live audience.
The Manchester team will create a musical instrument using cardboard, aluminium foil and electronic components such as those found in devices from around the home, including laptops, MaKey MaKey invention kits and the new BBC mirco:bit, a pocket-sized codeable computer.
As well as Professor Danielle George, The University of Manchester will have a strong representation at the Big Bang Fair – which attracts more than 70,000 visitors over four days.
In tribute to the ground-breaking work of Manchester pioneer Alan Turning, visitors will have the chance to crack secret codes as part of the University’s maths exhibition.
The University is also sponsoring an energy-themed category in the National Science + Engineering Competition (the ‘Global Challenges, Manchester Solutions: Energy Prize’). Ten shortlisted projects from schools across the UK will be judged on Wednesday, 16 March, and the final prize awarded the following day.