Tech Futures Day – Sold Out

The closing day of Cambridge Tech Week was dedicated to inspiring young people to explore a career in tech. Despite Cambridge being Europe’s largest tech cluster, engaging young people with the opportunities on their doorstep can be a challenge.

Tech Futures Day sought to inspire the next generation looking to venture into tech while providing a platform for business, academia, and educators to connect, learn, and explore how to work together to attract future talent.

Form the Future organised Tech Futures Day, donating its time, expertise and resources to further its mission to connect young people to a world of career possibilities and turn inspiration into aspiration. 

Tech Futures Symposium hosted by Form the Future

13:30 – 14:45  Keynote and Panel discussion:

For this session, Form the Future brought together thought leaders from academia, the third sector, and business discuss two major topics relating to education and tech. The first was the role of AI in education: what does this mean for educators and for learners? Secondly, the session explored the opportunities and the barriers to working in tech, sharing what works to attract young people into tech careers, and commiting to doing more to open up the tech world to a more diverse range of children and young people.

Exploring the impact of AI on education today
Chair: Steve Thompson, Chief Operating Officer, Form the Future
Speakers:

• Morgan Dee, Director of AI & Data Science at EDUCATE Ventures Research
• Tom Lloyd, Executive Director: Skills, Innovation and Strategy Development, Eastern Education Group
• Rajeshwari Iyer, co-founder, sAInaptic  

Navigating opportunities and challenges in tech careers
Chair: Kath Austin, Chief Programme Officer, Form the Future
Speakers:

• Professor Claire Pike, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education Enhancement), Anglia Ruskin University
• Orianne Wightman, Head of Early Careers, ARM  
• Anthony Adiotomre, Black Talent & Leadership in STEM Young Ambassador

15:00 – 16:00 Tech Futures Speed Networking Reception hosted by Form the Future 

Tech Futures – Young Person’s Agenda

Form the Future hosted young people as they visit Cambridge Science Park to introduce them to world-leading businesses, connecting them with role models and mentors and giving students an experience that could influence their next steps. 

09:30 Registration

10:00 – 10:30  Student welcome at the Bradfield Centre Auditorium from Dr Nik Johnson, Paediatric Consultant, NHS

10:30 – 12:15 Student activities from ARM, Cambridge Consultants, Mishcon de Reya and Siemens. Tabletop activities with Black Leadership in STEM, CASTEM Club, Centre for Computing History, Eastern Education Group, Form the Future, LumiAIres, Paragraf, PiWars Robots and sAInaptic.

12:15 – 13:00 Lunch

13:00 – 14:45 Student activities from ARM, Cambridge Consultants, Mishcon de Reya and Siemens. Tabletop activities with Black Leadership in STEM, CASTEM Club, Centre for Computing History, Eastern Education Group, Form the Future, LumiAIres, Paragraf, PiWars Robots and sAInaptic.

15:00 – 16:00 Speed networking & refreshments

In addition to sixth-form students, we are opening this up to undergraduates. ARU will bring computer science students and we will invite the Widening Participation teams at the Cambridge colleges to give them the opportunity to engage/contribute. Homerton Changemakers will be involved in this, too.