A Norwich sixth form student has landed a place in the finals of a competition looking for the country's brightest young scientists and engineers.

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition aims to recognise and reward young people's achievements in all areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Amber Johnson, a year 13 student at Sir Isaac Newton sixth form, won the place after she submitted a project on facial recognition software for people who have medical conditions that means they can't use traditional systems.

She started work on the scheme during a four-week Nuffield Research placement at the University of East Anglia last summer.

It will now be showcased at competition finals, which take place at the Big Bang Fair at the Birmingham NEC on March 15 and 16.

Chris Jennings, assistant principal at Sir Isaac Newton, which specialises in maths and science, said: 'Amber's impressive project is the result of months of hard work, inspired by her research placement at UEA last summer.

'Her achievement shows the value of these placements in the wider scientific community, which we encourage all our students to apply for.

'We wish Amber every success in the finals.'

The finalists will compete for the first place and runner-up prizes in junior, intermediate and senior categories - as well as the coveted title of the UK Young Scientist of the Year 2017.

The Big Bang competition aims to provide students with opportunities to build on their skills and confidence to take on project-based work.

For more information on the competition as a whole, visit the website at www.thebigbangfair.co.uk

Sir Isaac Newton, run by the Inspiration Trust, became the UK's first maths and science sixth form when it opened in September 2013 in the city centre.

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