STUDENTS from Okehampton and Tavistock colleges could be reaching for the stars this October by winning the lesson of a lifetime.

Professor Brian Cox, who won over millions of viewers with his hit TV series 'Wonders of The Solar System',  is preparing to capture the imaginations of one lucky science class with The Big Bang Lesson — an exciting workshop designed to take kids to infinity and beyond.

To show just how fascinating science, technology, engineering and maths can be, Prof Cox has teamed up with The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair 2011 to launch the nationwide competition for 11 to 18 year olds.

Students can now enter their school into the special draw, which could see Prof Cox taking over their lesson in Okehampton or Tavistock on November 16.

Some will remember Prof Cox as being the keyboard player in pop band D:Ream — and he's even supported Take That. But science has always been his passion and now the professor of physics has one mission: to inspire young people about the world.

He says: 'Science, technology, engineering and maths always captured my imagination. They are the subjects that deal with the grandest and most exciting questions: When did the universe begin? What is life and how did it arise? Is mathematics the language of nature? How can we build a spacecraft to journey to other planets and moons and search for alien life? Answering questions like these is interesting, and of course a lot of fun!

'I'm thrilled to be teaming up with The Big Bang to host my once in a lifetime lesson. I want to persuade young people they can play a part in answering big questions like these in the future, and enjoy learning about this fascinating and beautiful universe of ours today.'

Young people in Okehampton and Tavistock can now register for the chance to have the professor send their science class spinning into orbit with The Big Bang Lesson. Visit http://www.facebook.com/TheBigBang4U">www.facebook.com/TheBigBang4U for more information about the competition. Entry closes on October 24.