STEM competition seeks to ease plastic pollution

Open to anyone aged 9-21, ‘Save our shores from plastic waste through STEM’ is run by the British International Education Association

Young people are being invited to use their STEM skills in a bid to help halt coastal pollution.

Open to anyone aged 9-21, ‘Save our shores from plastic waste through STEM’ is an international competition run by the British International Education Association (BIEA), with student teams encouraged to research the issue before writing a report and designing a solution.

The best entrants will be put forward to the final rounds in June and July.


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Victorious teams from the 9-17 age group will win money for their school STEM labs, while those of university age will be invited to become youth STEM ambassadors.

The competition was launched at a conference on plastic pollution at London’s Royal Institution on January 15.

Presentations outlining how a STEM education can help young scientists become part of the solution were heard by an audience including industry professionals, representatives from the Chinese and Polish embassies, as well as numerous educators from the UK, China, Venezuela and Nigeria.

2020 competition unveiled

The contest follows last year’s competition, which saw teams from 18 different countries make it to the final in the UK to present plans for how drones could help conserve endangered animals.

For more information about the 2020 competition, visit bieacompetition.org.uk