OK, so we've been doing little education things at TCT for years, we do it quite well and we inspire a couple of students every year. However, it has always struck me that we are actually only scratching the surface, having a very limited but good impact on a handful of lucky students for whom we could find (for find read bribe) a time generous mentor to walk them round the show. A nice thing to do, but in the grand scheme of things pretty inconsequential.
For 2013 we had figured it was time to up the ante a little, well actually a lot. A chance conversation between industry guru and good friend Graham Tromans and Black Country Atelier (BCA) at last years show led to me taking a trip to the Jewellery quarter in Birmingham where BCA are based to have a chat.
From that chat via a trip to CES in Vegas to catch up with 3D Systems Avi Reichental and Cathy Lewis a serious upgrade to the TCT Bright Minds UK programme has now emerged.
Today we are delighted to be able to annouce a three-way partnership between Rapid News Communications Group, the parent company behind TCT Show + Personalize, 3D Print industry originators 3D Systems Corporation and educators Black County Atelier.
This initiative will see a classroom built in the heart of the exhibition floor at TCT Show + Personalize 2013 where up to 300 schoolchildren will have their chance to get their hands on CAD and 3D Printing technologies in a workshop setting.
Black Country Atelier, experts in delivering education in this technology area will lead the two hour sessions and the equipment, a significant amount, it should be said, will be generously provided free of charge by 3D Systems.
The new strapline for this years show is Inspire. Design. Make. and we are looking forward to enabling the 300 students to do just that at the show. Hopefully this year we can inspire many of them to take up a career in design or engineering, after all with 3D Printing on the scene it is a bit more sexy these days.
The programme is designed for students in Secondary School education in the UK. Each session will last approximately two hours and will also give participants entry to TCT Show + Personalize. Industry led tours of the TCT Show + Personalize can also be arranged. Schools within the UK wishing to participate should contact Jing Lu (jinglu@blackcountryatelier.com) to register their interest and discuss how they can get involved. The places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.
TCT Bright Minds UK will take place within TCT Show + Personalize, 25-26 September 2013, Hall 3/3a, NEC, Birmingham, UK
