The British International Education Association (BIEA) is proud to host its second annual international Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) conference on 15 January 2020. Focusing on the theme of plastic pollution and how to combat the global issue, the conference will convene a series of expert speakers and panellists who will discuss how technology can help counter plastic waste and save threatened marine and land-based life.
“We know that the world has a plastic problem as our oceans and lands have become polluted with our carelessly discarded plastic waste. This plastic will take thousands of years to decompose on land, whilst the plastic in the oceans break up into toxin-laden tiny particles, causing chemical pollution in the oceans. By bringing attention to this crisis and discussing how scientific technology can help clean up plastic waste before it becomes environmentally dangerous, we at the BIEA hope to engage today’s international youth to use education to become the ones who can help save the planet of plastic pollution,” said David Hanson, STEM competition chairman at BIEA. 
The 2020 conference will also mark the beginning of the BIEA’s International STEM Youth Innovation Competition, whose theme will also encompass the plastic pollution problem. The competition will engage young STEM students in technological innovation and how it can be used to clear detrimental plastic waste from our rivers and oceans. Teams from 40 countries and regions have registered so far, including UK, USA, Australia, China, Finland, Mexico, Pakistan, UAE, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, Poland etc.
Participating international student teams will research, write a report and design the solution on how to ‘Save our shores from plastic waste through STEM,’ with finalists moving on to final rounds in June/July 2020. Open to anyone between the ages of 9 and 21 years old, and the winning teams will take cash prizes to contribute to their school/university STEM labs.
Conference speakers, panelists, and moderators include experts from Imperial College, Thames21, the Royal Society, the British Council, BIEA and the Royal Institution.
A mystery giant marine animal sculpture is being made by a team of young artists to highlight the impact of plastic pollution. The empty plastic bottles are loaned from London Energy and will be returned after the campaign for recycling.
The conference will be held at the Royal Institution, 21 Albemarle St, Mayfair, London W1S 4BS. To purchase tickets to the BIEA conference, visit https://tinyurl.com/wvdrosr
For more information about the STEM Youth Innovation Competition visits www.bieacompetition.org.uk or follow BIEA @BIEAeducation on social media.
