Pictured above: Dr. Peter Rayson
A new festival is being held this summer to highlight the wealth
of technical innovation, knowledge and skills in Birmingham.
Birmingham City University is holding the first ever Birmingham
Techfest at Millennium Point on Saturday 25 June, 10am-4pm. The
festival will incorporate the UK Micromouse Championship which has
been hosted by the University for the past eight years.
Associate Dean of the Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the
Environment,
Dr. Peter Rayson, said: "We wanted to help put Birmingham and
the West Midlands on the technology and innovation map, where it
truly belongs.
"I think that the second city is often overlooked and that we
have a lot to shout about; the region is home to Jaguar Land Rover
- a business built around two great British car brands - and we
have a thriving computer games industry on our doorstep.
"The University itself works with leading global technology
companies such as Microsoft, Apple and Cisco, is researching the
use of algae to create an alternative fuel and is collaborating
with East Ends Foods Ltd to develop an urban farm on the site of
the iconic former HP Sauce factory.
"We felt that many people may not realise what the region, and
University, has to offer so we decided to hold Birmingham Techfest
to highlight our achievements. We hope to attract as many
businesses as possible to the event both in the capacity as
sponsors and visitors."
UK Micromouse is one of the most popular contests of its kind in
the world and involves contestants racing robotic 'mice' round
mazes. Micromouse began to grow in popularity in the late 1970s and
the most popular events are held in the UK, US, Japan, Singapore,
India and South Korea. Micromouse UK has grown to include a wide
range of robotic activities other than the maze-solving
competition, such as a schools' competition and
mini-sumo - in which contenders seek out their opponents and
then 'push them out of the ring' - and robot football.
As well as UK Micromouse 201, the Techfest will showcase the
activities of the University's Faculty of Technology, Engineering
and the Environment and many of its partner organisations. There
will be displays of students' work from all four Schools within the
Faculty, cutting-edge research and demonstrations.
Birmingham Techfest will be open to schools, colleges, the
public and businesses.