Budding engineers and scientists unveil cycle creations
Budding engineers and scientists of the future will be converging on the University of Southampton to put their latest creations to the test.
Teams of pupils from five Hampshire schools were challenged to come up with a bicycle or cyclist which was super-efficient.
Their innovative solutions will be on display at a special event at the University on Wednesday 16 July.
Organised by the University’s Schools of Education and Engineering Sciences and the education charity EDT, the event is a pilot project which is part of EDT’s national roll-out of the Go4SET scheme.
Go4SET is a new initiative, with lead sponsor BP, which links teams of Year 8/9 pupils and their teachers with local companies and universities to offer a ten-week science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experience.
It aims to raise pupils’ awareness of STEM and highlights the exciting future career opportunities in the field.
Youngsters from Hounsdown School, in Totton; Thornden School, in Chandler’s Ford; Bishop Challoner School, in Basingstoke; Mountbatten School, in Romsey; and Quilley School, in Eastleigh, have spent the last ten weeks in collaboration with mentors from the University and industry.
Undergraduate and postgraduate students from the University of Southampton’s Schools of Education and Engineering Sciences, and staff from Qinetiq and the Royal Navy have been helping guide the young inventors through the project.
Now the teams will converge on the University on 16 July where the outcome of their work will be judged by assessors from education and industry.
Dr Ajay Sharman, regional director of STEMNET, said: “This is an excellent collaborative initiative which helps encourage young people to become interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and through engagement with science engineering ambassadors, better understand the many career opportunities these fields have to offer.
“We hope that many more youngsters and teachers will get the chance to take part in the project in future years.”
Notes for editors
About Go4SET
Go4SET was launched in 2006/7 and has involved over 1,000 pupils across England and Scotland to date. The scheme operates nationally and in addition to the Go4SET Sports Engineering Project (unique to the Southampton hub), other projects focussed on water and energy conservation provide a pool of environmentally-themed projects available to schools and colleges.
Go4SET is run by the EDT (registered education charity) and BP are the lead sponsors of the scheme. National sponsors include Airbus, British Energy, Ford, GKN, The Royal Academy of Engineering and The British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA).
The Go4SET hub at the University of Southampton (supported by the Science Learning Centre) is additionally sponsored by STEMNET, SEEDA and Hampshire County Council.
About EDT
The EDT is an education charity that helps young people achieve their full potential, particularly in engineering, science and technology careers.
The Trust runs four schemes, providing opportunities for 12-21 year old students to improve their technical and employment skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised courses: Go4SET, Engineering Education Scheme (England), Headstart and The Year in Industry. EDT Registered Charity Number 1002459. All EDT schemes are members of the Royal Academy of Engineering's Best Programme. For more information visit www.etrust.org.uk or contact p.tysoe@etrust.org.uk