2011 James Dyson Award Open for entries

							                  THE CLASS WHERE AN “F” IS AS GOOD AS AN “A”

  Chicago school children make the grade by making mistakes, as James Dyson’s
               engineering education charity launches in America

May 5, 2011 (Chicago, IL) – Today James Dyson led a fun, fast-paced, invention school
workshop. Middle schoolers from Chicago Public Schools thought creatively, sketched and
modelled their designs at Sir Miles Davis Academy’s “invention gym.” Brains were given a
workout as the James Dyson Foundation began its mission to encourage more American
students to become future engineers and inventors.

James’ Foundation has worked closely with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to develop its
education program. Unusually, learning through failure is actively encouraged; engineers
progress by making mistakes. For the workshop, students were given a design brief to
redesign a household object that frustrates them. Along with James Dyson, engineering
mentors worked with students to think beyond the everyday.

James Dyson said: “Young people have an innate inventive streak. They’re not stifled by
experience – they take risks and are excellent problem-solvers. They fail everyday –
exactly the making of a great engineer. We’re encouraging children to use their hands and
heads, make mistakes and learn.”

For the launch, the Foundation was joined by local and national organizations to bring
engineering to life for the students. Children learned about 3D printing with tools from
Argonne National Laboratories, took an in depth look at skin cells with design firm, IDEO,
and discovered how robots are made with FIRST robotics. Chicago education leaders were
also in attendance, including President of Chicago Board of Education Mary Richardson-
Lowry, Deputy CEO of External Affairs and Partnerships for CPS Barbara Lumpkin, along
with influential STEM advocates Jon Dudas, President of FIRST Robotics and Tony Jones,
President of the School of the Art Institute (and the Foundation’s chairman).

For the 2011/12 school year, the Foundation will support engineering education in Chicago
through resources and after school clubs.

   -   Engineering Education box. The Engineering box takes students through the entire
       design process – brainstorming, sketching and modelling inventions. Only by taking
       something apart do you learn how it works. Children’s innate inquisitiveness is
       satisfied by disassembling a Dyson vacuum. The Foundation will make 70 available
       throughout Chicago schools, hoping to reach over 10,000 students in the first year.

   -   Engineering after school clubs. The Foundation is funding 20 engineering
       afterschool clubs in Chicago. The clubs will run for 10 weeks, twice a year, with the
       potential to reach 2,400 students over three years.

   -   Teacher training tools. The Foundation will offer teacher training tools to arm
       instructors with knowledge of engineering principles and how to incorporate the
       design process into their own classrooms.

   -   University scholarships. The Foundation will also work with universities in Chicago
       to help fund student’s engineering efforts.
Richard Durbin, U.S. Senator for Illinois, said about the Foundation: “Since 2002 The
James Dyson Foundation has passionately supported engineering education. With the
launch of the Foundation in Chicago, area youth will have the opportunity to access hands-
on curriculum resources and workshops.”

Since 2002, the Foundation has promoted a hands-on, creative approach to engineering
education. The Foundation has worked with hundreds of schools in the UK to enrich design
and technology lessons with practical activities, lesson plans and workshops. Foundation
resources have been used abroad in over 700 schools, reaching nearly 600,000 students.

To learn more, please visit www.jamesdysonfoundation.com or become a fan on Facebook.


For more information please contact:
Valerie Silvis                Erin Adler
Dyson                         Dyson
312-706-2266                  312-706-2269
valerie.silvis@dyson.com      erin.adler@dyson.com


Notes to editors:
   - A recent OECD report found that an extra hour of science lessons a week made a
      substantial difference to low-income students’ performance.
   - Less than one percent of Chicago’s students rated “advanced” in scientific
      proficiency, the need for new thinking in STEM education is vital.
   - 8th graders in Chicago were twenty-seven points lower than their peers nationwide
      in core science areas. Many students continue to show a disinterest in science.
   - Chicago has the third largest school system in the US.
   - Chicago Public Schools has the nation’s shortest school day and year, heightening
      the importance of extended learning programs.
   - Newly elected Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, has made education his top
      priority upon taking office in May.
   - The US is ranked 25th in math and 21st in science among 30 developed countries.
   - The United States ranks 27th out of 29 wealthy countries in the proportion of college
      students with degrees in science or engineering.