IET: Scottish students to take part in UK engineering challenge

Budding young engineers from schools across Scotland are set to take up the task of researching, designing and building solutions to real engineering problems.

On Wednesday 28 September, Breadalbane Academy in Perthshire will host a Faraday Challenge Day. Teams from Pitlochry High School and Crieff High School will also take part.

On Thursday 29 September, teams from Bucksburn Academy in Aberdeen will compete in a Faraday Challenge Day.

On Friday 30 September, teams from Alloa Academy in Clackmannanshire will compete in a Faraday Challenge Day.

The events are part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Faraday education programme which includes 55 challenge days across the UK.

The Faraday Challenge Days aim to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by encouraging creativity, innovation and problem solving skills.

Each event involves six school teams each made up of six 12 – 13 year old students studying Science, Design Technology and Maths.

Dee Halil, IET Education Manager, said: “Students taking part in the Faraday Challenge Days experience hands-on design and practical work giving them a peek into the life of a real engineer, the variety of engineering out there and the central role it plays in our everyday lives. We are confident that this will challenge young people’s perceptions of engineers and the jobs they do.

“The challenge is unveiled afresh at each event, so it’s top secret until then, but with the Olympics less than a year away, we can say that it will be about finding a solution to a real engineering problem linked directly to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is a great way to show young people the vital role engineering has played in the Olympics.”

Each team member in the winning group will be awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. The top three teams from across the UK will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national final in London in June 2012 to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school.

The Faraday Challenge Days are part of a wider Faraday education programme, made up of a whole host of teaching resources and activities to inspire and attract the engineers of tomorrow.

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.

Ends

Notes to editors:
For more information, visit: http://faraday.theiet.org/
Interview opportunities are available with IET spokespersons.
The IET is Europe’s largest professional body of engineers with over 150,000 members in 127 countries.
For more information, visit www.theiet.org.
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Media enquiries to:
Robert Beahan, Press Officer
T: +44 (0)1438 767336
M: +44 (0)7595 400912
E: rbeahan@theiet.org