Six schools from across Hampshire competed today to design and build a prototype to a tough engineering problem.
The University of Portsmouth hosted six teams of pupils from year 8 who were taking part in the Faraday Challenge
Pupils from City of portsmouth Boys School test their device
, a nationwide competition run by the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET). The Faraday Challenge Days aim to encourage young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths by encouraging creativity, innovation and problem solving skills.
The six teams were asked to design a hydration station for participants in the Olympic sport, speed-walking. The brief was to invent a design which avoids the need for speed-walkers to slow down to take a drink of water. All the teams were given a small pump and other pieces of equipment such as string, a paper cup and a reel of cotton – the rest was down to creativity and ingenuity.
The pupils competed to win prizes for themselves and their school and each team member in the winning group was awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. First prize went to Thornden School from Eastleigh who created the best working solution and won a cash prize of £1000 for their school. Second place went to the City of Portsmouth Boys School and The Downs School from Newbury took third place.
The top three first place winners from the country will receive an all expenses paid trip to London in June.
Dr Nick Savage from the University’s School of Engineering said that it was a brilliant opportunity for young people to get hands on experience of engineering.
“My interest in the subject started in my early teens on engineering taster sessions such as this one where I was trying out ideas, seeing them fail and trying again.”
“We have a close and long-standing relationship with the IET and we were delighted to be selected to host one of the Faraday Challenge Days which has been a great success.”
Teams were represented by the City of Portsmouth Boys School, Portsmouth, Cowplain Community School, the Connaught School, Aldershot, The Downs School, Newbury, Thornden School, Eastleigh and The Toynbee School, Eastleigh, Hants.
The 2011/12 season of Faraday Challenge Days has been granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
