His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is to visit the University of Essex later this month as part of its Big Bang Fair.

The fair, on December 16 at the university’s Colchester campus, will see the Prince join 1,000 Year 9 and 10 students from schools in the county and from across the border in Suffolk.

It has been organised in partnership with Engineering UK and will showcase the opportunities offered by STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths.

The Prince will tour demonstrations and activities organised by national and regional employers and then participate in a special workshop aimed at bringing businesses and head teachers together to help promote engineering careers to school pupils.

Karen Gooch, placements manager for the faculty of science and health at the university, said: “This is a fantastic occasion to bring employers and young people together to inspire the students about the exciting opportunities offered by science and technology.

“The Prince of Wales’ visit will reinforce the importance of engaging young people and their schools with businesses who want to see a growth in science and engineering skills in order to prosper.”

There will be a variety of demonstrations taking place on the day, including a robotic arm programmed using Raspberry Pi microcomputers, a giant pyramid puzzle allowing students to experience the different senses and how dysfunction of one or more can inhibit daily life, and measuring students’ brain activity through placing electrodes on the scalp.