Sustainable Engineering Challenge 2023/24
Aims and Learning Outcomes
The aim of the project is to give students an opportunity to engage in and enjoy implementing an exciting engineering project brief and inspire them to consider pursuing an engineering career. The Sustainable Engineering Challenge will provide students with opportunities to fulfil the following objectives:
- Develop abilities to contribute to sustainable solutions
- Enhance University application prospects by enhancing creativity, problem solving, communication and teamwork through engaging in a fun project
- Apply and enhance scientific and technological knowledge
Project Brief One
Solar Powered Devices
Examples could include (but not limited to):
- Desalination
- Rainwater harvesting
- Irrigation
- Any other relevant application of your choice
Project Brief Two
Robotics
Examples could include (but not limited to):
- Waste management
- Irrigation
- Flood control
- Health
- Manufacturing
Project Brief Three
IT and Telecommunications
Examples could include (but not limited to):
- Agriculture
- Health
- Education
Support
A briefing webinar will be offered by UoP academic staff at the beginning of the project followed by another webinar midway through the project to catch up on progress and offer further support.
Throughout the project UoP staff will be available to offer guidance and support remotely as required.
Please email highschoolproject@port.ac.uk with further questions about the project.
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Introductory Webinar |
Q&A Drop-in Session 1 27 October 2023 11.00am (EAT) 9.00am (BST) |
Q&A Drop-in Session 2 17 November 2023 12.00pm (EAT) 9.00am (GMT) |
Q&A Drop-in Session 3 12 January 2024 12.00pm (EAT) 9.00am (GMT) |
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On-Demand below |
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UoP Sustainable Engineering Challenge 2023/24 | Introduction
Resources
Science Buddies website: sciencebuddies.org
Arduino website: arduino.cc
Assessment Criteria
At the end of the project, you are required to make a group presentation and practical demonstration of your product/device/App. The main outputs of be assessed are:
1. Presentation by the group covering the following (as minimum):
- Inspiration/Rationale
- Scientific principles/Technical basis
- Findings/outputs
- Challenges
2. A practical demonstration of a device, app, product (prototype, mock-up, etc). The use of locally and easily available materials is encouraged whenever possible.
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Technical viability including assumptions and limitations
- Creativity
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Originality
- Inspiration/Rationale
- Scientific principles/Technical basis
- Findings/outputs
- Challenges
- Technical viability including assumptions and limitations
- Creativity
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Teamwork
Example Projects
The following sample projects have been provided purely for inspiration. You are not expected or required to reproduce them or follow them step by step. Adoption of individual or combination of ideas from them is acceptable as long as the sources are acknowledged. However, these will have to be adapted creatively to solution of problems within the Kenyan context.
How can seawater from the oceans be turned into fresh water that is suitable for people to drink? Through a process called solar desalination! In this science project, you will make a solar desalination apparatus using readily available materials, and a power source that is free. How much water can the device produce, and is it still salty at all? What factors affect how effectively saltwater is turned into fresh water?
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar power are commonly mentioned in relation to providing electricity to homes and buildings, as well as hybrid or fully electric cars that use less (or zero) gasoline. But what about solar-powered robots? As robots become more common, it is increasingly important to use "green" energy sources to power them. In this project, you will build and test a popular robot called a bristlebot — a tiny robot made using toothbrushes — that can operate on either battery or solar power, and investigate how well it performs in different weather conditions.
Judges
Dr Kenneth Awinda, University of Portsmouth
Professor Raymond Lee, Associate Dean (Global Engagement) Faculty of Technology
Kenneth Ramah, WeRobotics
| Key Dates | |
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| Official Launch of the UoP Kenya Sustainable Engineering Challenge 2023/24 for teachers and school counsellors | Tuesday 12th September 2023 |
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Schools to confirm teams entered and names of participants Please email highschoolproject@port.ac.uk |
Tuesday 26th September 2023 |
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Webinar One Introduction to Sustainable Engineering Challenge 2023/24 |
Friday 29th September 2023 |
| Support Session One | Friday 27th October 2023 |
| Support Session Two | Friday 17th November 2023 |
| Support Session Three | Friday 12th January 2023 |
| Schools to assess and nominate their best project | Monday 22nd January 2024 |
| Presentation to be recorded and sent to judging panel | Monday 29th January 2024 |
| Presentations assessed by | Friday 9th February 2024 |
| Presentation Ceremony | February 12th - 14th 2024 (TBC) |
Prizes
The top three projects will receive prestigious prizes, the details of which will be published on this page. Prizes are kindly sponsored by Navitas, StudyPortals and QS Apply.
All participants will receive a certificate and goodie bag.
Sponsors
Special thanks to our sponsors Navitas, StudyPortals and QS Apply.
Please read these terms and conditions carefully before participating in the Year 12 High School Sustainable Engineering Challenge (the "Challenge"). By entering and participating in the Challenge, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
Eligibility:
a. The Challenge is open to students in Year 12, currently studying a STEM subject at High School
b. Participants must form teams of no more than five members.
c. Each participant must have written consent from a parent or legal guardian to participate.
d. There is no limit on how many teams a school may enter.
e. Participants and Winners of the competition may be involved in photography and to be interviewed. They agree that the University of Portsmouth can use their image and likeness for the purpose of announcing the winner to the public and in any articles or social media posts promoting the competition.
Challenge Guidelines:
a. The Challenge aims to promote sustainable engineering solutions for real-world problems.
b. Each Team may select one project brief
c.. Participants are required to develop and present an innovative engineering project that addresses a specific sustainability issue.
d. Projects can cover various fields of engineering, including but not limited to renewable energy, waste management, water conservation, sustainable transportation, and eco-friendly materials.
e. Participants are encouraged to think creatively, employ scientific principles, and demonstrate the feasibility and potential impact of their projects.
f. Projects should be original, and any plagiarism or copyright infringement will result in disqualification.
g. Each school to submit their best project for assessment by Monday 22nd January 2024
Registration:
a. Participants must register for the Challenge by the specified deadline.
b. The registration process may involve providing information about the team members, their school, and a brief description of the proposed project.
Project Submission:
a. Participants must submit their project proposals by the designated deadline.
b. Project proposals should include a detailed description of the project, its objectives, methodologies, expected outcomes, and potential impact.
c. Any supporting documents, diagrams, or calculations should be included in the project submission.
d. Submissions should be made in a format specified by the Challenge organisers (e.g., PDF, PowerPoint, or Word document).
Judging and Evaluation:
a. Projects will be evaluated based on the criteria criteria set by the Challenge organisers, which may include innovation, technical feasibility, environmental impact, social relevance, and presentation quality.
b. The judging panel's decision will be final and binding, and no correspondence regarding the selection process will be entertained.
c. The winners will be announced publicly, and prizes may be awarded based on the Challenge organisers' discretion.
d. Guest Judges to view presentations and demonstrations in Nairobi, which will be followed by a Presentation Ceremony at Brookhouse School
e. All Teams are invited to attend the Presentation Ceremony in February 2024 where the competition winners will be announced and prizes awarded
Intellectual Property:
a. Participants retain ownership of their project ideas and intellectual property.
b. However, by participating in the Challenge, participants grant the organisers a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute their project submissions for promotional purposes.
Code of Conduct:
a. Participants must conduct themselves in a respectful and sportsmanlike manner throughout the Challenge.
b. Any form of cheating, dishonesty, or unethical behaviour will result in immediate disqualification.
Liability:
a. The Challenge organisers will not be responsible for any injuries, losses, damages, or expenses incurred by participants during the Challenge.
Modifications and Termination:
a. The Challenge organisers reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Challenge at any time without prior notice.
b. In the event of modification or termination, the organisers may provide alternative arrangements or prizes at their discretion.
By participating in the Year 12 High School Sustainable Engineering Challenge, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions.