The ACP Presents to Ten Schools in Buckinghamshire

For our last Roadshow event of 2024 the ACP presented to students from ten schools in the Anglo-Saxon ‘scire’ of Buckinghamshire. Hosted by The Misbourne School on 13 December the presentation team of Michael Smith, Chris Marshall, Mike Stokes and Lee Mason met with 117 students and teachers from Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School, Akeley Wood School, Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, the Royal Latin School, the Grange School, Beaconsfield High School, John Colet School, Amersham School, Princes Risborough School and, of course, The Misbourne.

During the morning Dr Smith introduced students to some of the technologies from what is known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (see: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution) such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, The Internet of Things, Robotics, Drones, Virtual Reality, Quantum Computers, Nanotechnology, 3D Printing and Blockchain + Cryptocurrency and, in many cases, how several of them operate together. Furthermore, with robotics and AI he was joined by Chris Marshall who introduced and directed questions to Spot, our Boston Dynamics quadruped robot; Chris then went on to explain drone operations via his company, Airborne Platforms.

Dr Smith continued by explaining the aerospace, space and aviation industries in more depth and made particular reference to their current and future career opportunities, plus future technologies up to the year 2050. Following our introduction of a student dressed in the ACP’s replica NASA Shuttle EVA suit a short break was taken for lunch, and then the during the afternoon the audience were encouraged to be ‘hands-on’ with drone flight simulators, VR flight experiences, AR/VR design and associated 3D Printing and, of course, ask more questions of Spot.

On behalf of the ACP Trustees, Dr Smith would like to thank most warmly Richard Peters LL.B (Hons), Headteacher at The Misbourne for his, and his relevant colleagues’ superb hospitality and, in particular, Helen Hill for her outstanding organisation and support. The nine visiting schools have now joined The Misbourne as members of the ACP Network and will receive a continuing and growing input of relevant information via our website, social media and YouTube channel. To the staff of all ten schools we say a very sincere Thank You, and to the students we wish them every success for their future education and subsequent careers

Finally, the Trustees are most grateful indeed to Chris Marshall from Airborne Platforms, Mike Stokes from DevelopMyWeb, Lee Mason from Metageist and Emma Versen, our Administrator & Schools Liaison, for their exceptional support of the ACP in all respects throughout 2024.

The ACP Roadshow is back on the road on 28 January 2025, starting with a presentation hosted by St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh.