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The co-founder of FabLab London, Tony Fish, has joined the judging panel for the EW BrightSparks programme, a joint initiative between Electronics Weekly and RS Components to help uncover the brightest young design engineers in the UK.
Nominations are now open and Tony joins Dr Lucy Rogers (science writer/presenter and judge on BBC’s Robot Wars), Paul Hide (COO of techUK), Richard Wilson (Editor, Electronics Weekly), and Lindsley Ruth (CEO, RS Components) on the judging panel.
Prior to his current role at FabLab London, Tony had some personal experience with the UK national curriculum’s computing syllabus and has voiced concerns that the focus is purely on coding, rather than things. He believes that to help inspire students, our computing classes should include everything from art to engineering. That rather than teaching students to get jobs in IT, we should teach them how they can use their own creativity to start up and build their own businesses.
It’s not enough to get young people interested in engineering alone; Tony feels that it is important for each and every one of us to get the opportunity to discover what we are truly passionate about and have the chance to try everything out until something clicks that has real meaning and personal value to us. He believes that when you do something you love, you will make a difference. One of his favourite things about running FabLab London is that he gets to work with some truly amazing people who draw their ideas and inspiration from things that he didn’t even know existed!
In spite of all of Tony’s achievements as an author, inventor, entrepreneur and digital strategist, he is most proud of his daughters, both of whom, he says, dislike all things technical, but have found something they love in life that will make them happy.
If you are an engineering BrightSpark, or you know someone who is, head over to Electronics Weekly now to find out more and make your nomination. There are no complicated forms – just a 500 word application or short video is all we require.
Meet the Other Judges
Richard Wilson – Editor, Electronics Weekly
Lindsley Ruth – CEO, Electrocomponents PLC
Paul Hide – techUK chief