Let Computer Science entertain you: BrainAcademy is back

BrainAcademy 2006 launches in search of creative computing talent

London, UK – 20th March 2006 - BrainAcademy is back for 2006. The computer science competition offering university bursaries as prizes is expanding in new directions in its search to find the cream of computing talent; this year’s theme is Computer Science and the Entertainment Industry.

Links between computer science and the entertainment industry are already well established; from music, games and puzzles, to the way films are made. The subject draws on many different areas; from the social sciences to engineering, from maths to the performing arts and sport. In doing so Computer Science is changing the way we enjoy our leisure time.

BrainAcademy organiser, Dr Paul Curzon of Queen Mary’s Department of Computer Science explains why this year’s BrainAcademy is aiming to entertain: “BrainAcademy is a fun way to find and inspire the most talented students and give them the life-changing opportunity of a university education, together with great career options. Most of us use computer science in our day to day lives without even realising it; and our innovative new MSc in Digital Performance will create graduates with the technical skills and artistic flair ready to make a difference in the entertainment industry.”

This year’s competition is also reaching out across the age groups, and across the world.
• BrainAcademy: postgraduate is open to overseas postgraduate students for the first time, with cash prizes to help the winners study for one of Queen Mary’s innovative MScs, and a chance to kick-start a career with sponsors ARM by offering winners an interview with the industry-leading company.

• BrainAcademy: undergraduate is looking for UK talent to win prizes including a tuition fees paid place at university and a fast track to a career with sponsors Microsoft. As well as a student exchange year abroad at another leading international university, and a summer work experience placement with top Internet publishers ZDNet, winners are also in line for Microsoft software, laptops, textbooks and cash prizes.

• BrainAcademy: the next generation, is a new category this year, sponsored by ARM®, and is looking for future talents in UK schools. Prizes on offer include iPod Nanos donated by ARM and the chance to spend an afternoon in Queen Mary’s state-of-the-art Augmented Human Interaction Research Laboratory.

William Hohl, University Relations Manager, ARM said: "Most people don't realise how ubiquitous embedded microprocessors have become - in their cars, cell phones, portable media players, televisions, cameras – they are everywhere! With this pervasive technology comes a demand for new computer science graduates, and ARM enthusiastically supports programmes like BrainAcademy to encourage the next generation of great minds in this growing field."

Kevin McDaniel, Academic Group Manager, Microsoft Ltd added: "Microsoft is delighted to be again working with Queen Mary, University of London and supporting its annual computer science bursary competition. Encouraging and enabling young technology enthusiasts and students to realise their full potential with technology is a common goal that both Microsoft and Queen Mary share."

The BrainAcademy 2006 opens on 20th March 2006 and closes on 14th September 2006. The challenging competition involves an online research quiz to qualify for the Computer Science creativity challenge, followed by a tough interview for the finalists competing for the University places. BrainAcademy is open to people of all ages whether school students, university students, or those in the workplace wanting to advance their career. Winners will be announced in December 2006.
[ends]

Notes to Editors

Visit www.brainacademy.qmul.ac.uk . For more information, logo and photography, please contact:


Rose Ross and Hannah Knowles
Omarketing Limited (for BrainAcademy)
+44 (0)20 8255 5225
or USA (781) 519 0275
rose@omarketing.co.uk / hannah@omarketing.co.uk

Siân Wherrett
Communications Officer
Queen Mary, University of London
Tel: 020 7882 7454
Mob: 07970 096175
Email: s.wherrett@qmul.ac.uk


The History of BrainAcademy:
BrainAcademy was first launched in 2003. The fun "life-changing-prizes-game-show" caught the imagination and received commendations from the government’s Minister for IT. The competition also won Queen Mary’s Drapers prize for teaching and learning. The 2003 winner, Adam Kramer, from North London, is currently at the end of his second year of his Queen Mary Computer Science course prize. He is also part of Microsoft’s “Most valued students” scheme. Adam, then 17, was a self-taught programmer when he entered. "I wasn't expecting to win the competition, but I'm really pleased to be studying at Queen Mary," he said. Simon Kinsey, winner of the 2005 competition will be returning to study at Queen Mary as a mature student on the Advanced Methods in Computer Science MSc, after a varied career as a community health officer, manager of homelessness services, teaching mathematics and most recently as a Data Analyst with Anglian Water. “Needless to say, I am very happy to be studying again at Queen Mary – albeit after a minor 20 year break.”

The competition is sponsored by Queen Mary, University of London, and by the information technology industry including Microsoft, ARM, BAFTA winners Soda Creative Ltd, high-tech PR, marketing consultancy Omarketing (www.omarketing.co.uk), and Internet publishers ZDNet and by the British Computer Society Human Computer Interaction Group.

Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary is one of the leading colleges in the federal University of London, with over 11,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, and an academic and support staff of around 2,600. Queen Mary is a research university, with over 80 per cent of research staff working in departments where research is of international or national excellence (RAE 2001). It has a strong international reputation, with around 20 per cent of students coming from over 100 countries.

The College has 21 academic departments and institutes organised into three sectors: Science and Engineering; Humanities, Social Sciences and Laws; and the School of Medicine and Dentistry. It has an annual turnover of £174 million, research income worth £43 million, and it generates employment and output worth nearly £400 million to the UK economy each year.

Queen Mary’s roots lie in four historic colleges: Queen Mary College, Westfield College, St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College and the London Hospital Medical College.

Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the world-wide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people. The Microsoft Academic Initiative is committed to advancing research and scholarship, enhancing the teaching and learning experience and empowering students to realise their full potential with technology. Visit www.microsoft.com/uk/academia

ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from mobile, home and enterprise solutions to embedded and emerging applications. ARM’s comprehensive product offering includes 16/32-bit RISC microprocessors, data engines, 3D processors, digital libraries, embedded memories, peripherals, software and development tools, as well as analog functions and high-speed connectivity products. Combined with the company’s broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies. More information on ARM is available at www.arm.com

Soda Creative
Soda works with clients to develop projects and intellectual property (IP) by combining creative, technical, design, consultative and research methods. They investigate problems, generate new ideas, build prototypes or develop and license products. Through their creativity they generate IP that builds value for both client and soda. Visit www.soda.co.uk

British HCI Group
Founded in 1984, the British HCI Group is a Specialist Group of the British Computer Society (BCS). It provides an organisation for all those working on the analysis, design, implementation and evaluation of technologies for human use. The HCI Group works to break down barriers and to promote communication between people who use computers, people who implement them, and people who investigate HCI issues. The group works with professional societies to support practitioners and to promote standards of HCI within the information and communications technology industries. Visit
www.bcs-hci.org.uk/

ZDNet/Builder UK
ZDNet is the UK's leading source of fast, authoritative information on technology solutions for the IT Pro. The site, which launched in 1996, provides news, features, reviews, downloads, white papers and a price comparison and tracking service. Today ZDNet is part of CNET Networks, which has the largest worldwide network of technology editors and writers of any news organisation, and over 65 million unique users every month. Builder UK is a new site launched by CNET Networks UK to cater for and support the UK developer community. Visit www.zdnet.co.uk and http://uk.builder.com

Omarketing
Omarketing is a technology public relations and marketing company with a demonstrable specialism in the telecoms and IT networking, data storage and security industries. Omarketing delivers powerful and creative campaigns to drive its clients marketing messages home. US and pan-European campaigns are run from its UK office and through an established partnership network working locally across the US and mainland Europe. Visit: www.omarketing.com

cs4fn: Computer Science for Fun
cs4fn is a webzine and linked magazine that promotes the fun side of computer science in a non-patronizing and exciting way. It contains articles, games, puzzles, interviews, quizzes and other activities, that all have a link to Computer Science, including leading edge research. Launched in the summer of 2005 at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition, the webzine has already reached the level of 20 000 page hits per month. cs4fn is the creation of members of the Department of Computer Science of Queen Mary, University of London with the aim of sharing their passion about all things to do with Computer Science. Visit: www.dcs.qmul.ac.uk/cs4fn

This release was published on openPR.