Registration now open for International Robotics Showcase in Liverpool to kick off UK Robotics Week 2018

PUBLIC registration is now officially open for the International Robotics Showcase event that will be held on Thursday, 21 June 2018.

The event will mark the start of UK Robotics Week 2018, which returns from 21 June to 29 June 2018.

As part of the International Business Festival, this hotly anticipated 1 day Grand Finale Showcase and Speaker Programme, that will feature leading international robotics experts from across industry and academia; will be held at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool, on Liverpool's King's Dock, with the fantastic backdrop of the Liverpool Waterfront.

To register for the event, please visit:- https://bit.ly/2FUXgNn

In what has become the centrepiece of UK Robotics Week, this year's International Robotics Showcase will feature exclusive talks by world renowned experts in science and technology, plus lively panel discussions and debate covering the ethical, legal and economic impact of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).

An all day exhibition will offer live robot demonstrations and the chance for academics, industry and the general public to explore the latest technological developments and capabilities.

The showcase concludes with an award ceremony for competition and challenge winners demonstrating cutting edge robotics innovation. Registration for the International Robotics Showcase includes a 9 day pass to the International Business Festival.

This year, a series of exclusive whitepapers will be published to coincide with the International Robotics Showcase and launch of UK Robotics Week, offering an in depth exploration of the current research landscape in Urban Automation and Transport and AgriTech.

Now in its 3rd year, the annual UK Robotics Week continues to excite the public imagination and the programme now boasts over 100 activities up and down the country, spanning lectures, conferences, hackathons, and open days.

 The UK Robotics Week initiative is jointly spearheaded by founding supporters:- the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), The Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the UK RAS Special Interest Group, and is being coordinated by the EPSRC UK RAS network.

Philip Nelson, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) said:- "As we look towards the start of the third UK Robotics Week, there can be no doubt that the EPSRC funded UK RAS Network continues to go from strength to strength. From continuing its series of informational white papers, to running robotics challenges that attract the best teams from across the globe, their efforts to raise the profile of UK robotics and autonomous systems have helped shine a spotlight on the possibilities offered by such cutting edge systems. Launching the 2018 UK Robotics Week at the UK's International Business Festival is a perfect fit, the fundamental research carried out by UK researchers today has already started to lead to the industrial innovations of tomorrow. This underscores the necessity of investment in a strong science base to produce a strong, productive economy."

Professor Guang Zhong Yang PhD, FREng, Director and Co-founder of the Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery, at Imperial College London and Chair of the EPSRC UK-RAS Network, added:- "We are very excited to be transporting the International Robotics Showcase to this fantastic venue in Liverpool, and delivering our vision for the UK's leadership in robotics and autonomous systems to an even wider audience as part of the prestigious International Business Festival. We are looking forward to an inspiring week celebrating the very best in robotics development across key sectors including agritech, transport, space, health, social care and many more."

For full information about all the activities planned for UK Robotics Week, please visit the UK RAS website and you an also follow UK Robotics follow them on Twitter.

West Lancs School maps way to county finals

PUPILS from St Bede's Catholic High School in West Lancashire are celebrating after securing a place at the largest youth sporting event in Lancashire, following victory in an inclusive orienteering competition.

The School battled it out against five other Schools at Tarleton Academy and will now represent West Lancashire, at the SPAR Lancashire School Games County Finals, where they will compete against teams from 14 other Lancashire districts in a bid to be crowned county champions in inclusive orienteering.

Chris Hart, School Games Organiser for West Lancashire, who arranged the event, said:- "Well done to St Bede's Catholic High School pupils for guiding their way to the county finals. Team West Lancashire is rooting for you."

Organised by Active Lancashire, the SPAR Lancashire School Games comprises a series of inclusive sporting events that provides competitive and participative opportunities for all School children across the county. Children across Lancashire will continue to battle it out in a range of sports to gain a place at the SPAR Lancashire School Games county finals which will be held at Blackpool's Stanley Park, on 3 July 2018.

More than 3,500 children from Schools across Lancashire's 15 districts are now battling it out for a place at the county finals in 16 sports including:- gymnastics, football, athletics, mixed cricket and touch rugby. New additions to the SPAR Lancashire School Games line up have also been introduced for 2018, including quick sticks and quad kids.

The SPAR Lancashire School Games is the biggest School Games programme of its kind and is implemented by the county's School Games organisers.

This year will mark the 20th year the county's School Games programme has been sponsored by James Hall and Company Ltd, the SPAR distributors for the north of England. Over ₤128m of National Lottery and Government funding has been invested into the School Games programme.