The Bright Minds initiative returns for 2014
Education to take centre stage at Frankfurt Show.
On the back of a hugely successful UK programme TCT Bright Minds will make its debut at Euromold this year. The TCT Magazine + Personalize, 3D Systems Corporation and Black County Atelier have announced that they will partner with Euromold organisers DEMAT to bring the innovative program to the heart of Hall 11 at the event that will see over 200 schoolchildren get real hands-on technology experience in Frankfurt/Main.
Building on a successful UK programme that has been running at the TCT event for many years, the TCT Bright Minds UK programme sees a glass walled classroom built in the heart of the exhibition and throughout the show hundreds of schoolchildren have their chance to use CAD and 3D Printing technologies in a workshop setting. Black Country Atelier will run the classroom sessions with the equipment being provided free-of-charge by 3D Systems. For the Euromold edition the range of technologies covered will include 3D scanning, a haptic based 3D mouse and 3D printers.
As 3D printing becomes an increasingly popular tool for teaching STEM-related subjects, the Bright Minds program incorporates a course developed by Black Country Atelier. Pupils will be able to apply real world design and manufacture thinking into their work using a range of technologies that reflect the importance of an integrated set of tools in the classroom and an ecosystem that includes not only technology, but teacher training and the new curriculum.
Duncan Wood, Chief Operating Officer at Rapid News Communications Group commented “The TCT Bright Minds UK programme has come of age in the last few years with hundreds of excited participants getting a real hands on experience of the technologies that TCT Show + Personalize specialises in. We think inspiring the next generation is important and the extension of this program into Germany at Euromold in partnership with our friends at DEMAT GmbH is extremely exciting. I can't thank our partners enough for their contribution to the initiative, and for continuing to work with us as the program expands into new territories. They have enabled us to have a real impact on a growing number of students and we are delighted to be able to work together with both BCA and 3D Systems again and continue to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers, this time in Germany”
Jing Lu, Director at BCA, added: “We are excited to bring 3D printing education to Euromold. 3D design innovation skills are vital to industries globally and we look forward to working with local schools and colleges.”
Cathy Lewis, Chief Marketing Officer of 3D Systems, stated: "We are excited to partner once again with Rapid News, TCT and BCA on this powerful education initiative, and are delighted to bring it to Frankfurt with Euromold organisers DEMAT. We are committed to bringing 21st century tools, programmes and technologies to students and schools across the globe and this program extension helps us further realize this goal.”
Euromold Project Manager Frank Santo stated “We as a society have the responsibility to bring our next generation close to new technical developments so that they can make the first and important experiences early. Together with our cooperation partners The TCT Magazine, 3D Systems Corporation and Black Country Atelier we will offer our German pupils the chance getting in contact with latest 3D technology and technical innovations in this industry section professionally. We are very delighted to present and establish this educational event at EuroMold 2014 for the very first time and we hope this event may be the occasion 3D technology lessons can beheld directly in German schools in future.”
The programme is designed for young students of High Schools and Secondary Schools in Germany. Each session will last approximately two hours and will also give all participants entry to EuroMold 2014.
German Schools wishing to participate should contact Jing Lu at BCA (jinglu@blackcountryatelier.com) or Frank Santo at DEMAT GmbH (frank.santo@demat.com) to register their interest and discuss how they can get involved. The places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
