Organisers of an exciting Kent-wide science contest for schools are on the hunt for 'dragons' to join the judging panel for next year’s event.

A team from the KM Bright Spark Awards visited one of Europe’s leading science and technology parks, Discovery Park in Sandwich, to talk to companies from sectors including life science, pharmaceutical and biotechnology about signing up for the 2016 event.

The KM Bright Spark Awards competition encourages a passion for science allowing groups of primary and secondary school pupils with a flair for STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) to show off their creations.

Finalists are invited to a live Dragons’ Den style event where they take to the stage to present their work to the panel and answer follow up questions posed by the dragons. Each group takes part in a video filmed in school in advance of the final to show the detail of their project; the video is then screened before the group faces the judging panel.

The youngsters will be competing for trophies and experience prizes with the overall KM Bright Spark Awards champions receiving the top prize of £500.

Event organiser Lisa Craig of the KM Charity Team said: “We’re hunting for dragons to help us find the scientists, engineers and mathematicians of the future.

“The competition is a fantastic experience for pupils and an opportunity for schools to showcase their work as well as raise the profile of science across Kent and Medway.”

Kimblerley Anderson, corporate relations manager at Discovery Park, added: “I think it’s essential that we get children excited about science - getting them to know that science is cool and science is something that they could have a career in.”

To enter the KM Bright Spark Awards 2016, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk or click here and complete the simple online form by noon on Friday, June 3, 2016. The best entries will be invited to the competition final at Discovery Park on Friday, July 1, 2016.

• To find out more about becoming a dragon at the event, contact Simon Dolby on 07989 164 752 or sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk.