SCHOOLS across the North-East and North Yorkshire are being urged to get involved in an exciting new science competition.

The Ultimate STEM Challenge, launched by BP in partnership with STEMNET and the Science Museum is open to young people aged between 11 to 14 from across the country.

It will challenge them to put their science, technology, engineering and maths skills to the test by tackling some real-world problems.

Aimed at younger secondary school students yet to make their GCSE choices, the Ultimate STEM Challenge builds on the success of the BP Ultimate Field Trip, which has engaged nearly 3,000 UK STEM university students in the past five years, and lays the foundations for younger students considering studying STEM subjects before making their GCSE subject choices.

The challenges for 2014 are all based around the theme of using STEM to help us explore, live and work in challenging environments. Working in groups of two to four, students can choose from three challenges: Keeping warm; keeping hydrated and keeping cool.

The challenges to students have been developed to ensure they reflect the challenges BP faces as a business, from operating at the bottom of the ocean to the heat of the desert. To enter, the teams will need to create a short film or presentation showcasing their project. Their teacher will need to submit these before the deadline of January 16 2015, using the online form on the BP Educational Services (BPES) website.

Finalists will be invited to an event at the Science Museum in London to compete for prizes, including a cash prize of £500 to spend on science equipment or a field trip.

For more details go to bp.com/ultimatestemchallenge