Today there is a chronic shortage of science graduates to deal with the future challenges we are facing. There is a high demand for more environmentally friendly energy, safer traffic and cities, faster detection of life-threatening diseases and improved quality of life.
STEM platform
This provides an enormous opportunity to encourage young people to study STEM subjects and to guide them to socially relevant jobs based on fascinating technology. The four components of STEM -Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics- are all individually very important. But the strength of STEM is the cooperation on common ground where these components meet and are interlinked, and how they interact with social and other sciences.
The STEM platform drew up a charter to increase the attractiveness of these courses and professions and to enhance their coherence and interdependence through a comprehensive cooperation between those involved.
STEM in action
VUB, B-PHOT Brussels Photonics and EYEST signed the STEM charter and are committed to investing in a range of activities that strengthen the coherence of the STEM fields. As STEM ambassadors, EYEST and B-PHOT Brussels Photonics offer educational kits such as the Photonics Explorer to excite and educate youngsters about the fascinating world of photonics and other science events for everyone that we hope will make photonics a household term. From now on all these activities will be announced as B-PHOTONICS activities.
If your company or institute, would like to keep up with our activities, opportunities, events, and news, please contact Tine De Pauw or Nathalie Debaes.
Are you looking for exciting activities for you or your students? Then check out the magazine below! magazine
Hugo Thienpont
Director Brussels Photonics hthienpo@b-phot.org
Nathalie Debaes
EU Support Officer ndebaes@b-phot.org
Tine De Pauw
STEM/Outreach Officer tdepauw@b-phot.org
Astghik Chalyan
STEM/Outreach Officer achalyan@b-phot.org
NEMO educational kit
2006Design, development and distribution of an educational kit with micro-optics for secondary schools in the framework of the European ‘Network of Excellence on Micro Optics, NEMO’.
Fascination of Light exhibition
2007B-PHOT host the traveling exhibition of light and welcomes more than 2000 visitors.
Photonics Science Show
2010First edition of the Photonics Science Show for 400 students.
EYESTvzw
01 Nov 2011Launch of the non-profit EYEST for the Europe wide distribution of Photonics Explorer kits.
Photonics Science Show
2012Second edition of the Photonics Science Show for 450 students
Photonics Science Show
2013Third edition of the Photonics Science Show for 650 students.
PHOTONICS SCIENCE SHOW:
Fourth edition of the Photonics Science Show for 1000 students.
GOPHOTON:
European project (2014-2015) about outreach in photonics. In the framework of 'IYL2015: International Year of Light' we organised an exhibition in the Atomium, Discover the Power of Light!' which received more than 270.000 visitors.
PHOTONICS SCIENCE SHOW:
Fifth edition of the Photonics Science Show for 1500 students.
LIGHT 2015:
European project resulting in 10 new local partners for the distribution of Photonics Explorer kits.
PHOTONICS SCIENCE SHOW:
Sixth edition of the Photonics Science Show for 1500 students.
2500 KITS:
The 2500th Photonics Explorer kit distributed.
KICK-OFF PHABLABS 4.0:
Launch of the European PHABLABS 4.0 project of which we are coordinator.
PHOTONICS SCIENCE SHOW:
Seventh edition of the Photonics Science Show for 1500 students.
UNESCO: OPENING IDL (16/05/2018):
Photonics Science Show at Unesco, Paris during the launch of the International Day of Light
3200 PHOTONICS EXPLORER KITS
More than 3200 Photonics Explorer kits distributed.