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CHALLENGE TO DISCOVER TOMORROW’S INVENTORS
More than 80 budding inventors put their thinking caps on when they took part in the “Tomorrow’s Inventors” Challenge at Pittodrie Stadium. The event, organised by Careers Scotland, aims to find the most creative and innovative Primary school pupils.
Tomorrow’s Inventors introduces young people to science and technology in a fun and memorable way. The programme is managed by Careers Scotland and is supported by the private sector, WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organisation) and the Scottish Network of Science Centres.
15 schools from across Grampian sent teams of five pupils to participate in the challenge. The children were asked to come up with an original solution to meet a real consumer need. The pupils’ task was to design and build a model of a new invention to solve an everyday problem. They could choose from; an aid to be used at home; something new for sport; a product that will help the environment; an invention involving food or drink; or something to help the school day.
The Challenge provides young people with the opportunity to develop and enhance a whole range of enterprising skills including ideas generation, decision-making, problem-solving, team-working and communication.
The winning team on the day were Kirkhill with their ‘River Rig’ idea which would provide a water-driven source of eco-friendly power. They received a cheque for £100 for their school and will go forward to represent Grampian in the national final of Tomorrow’s Inventors to be held on 13 June 2006 at the Glasgow Science Centre. There were three runners-up in what was a very closely contested event: Ashley Road, Fetterangus and Newhills.
Joan Scott, Enterprise in Education Adviser, Careers Scotland, said:
“Scotland has a great history of invention, and it is important that young people have the opportunity to participate in events like Tomorrow’s Inventors to motivate their science, creativity and enterprising skills at an early age. The young people taking part in the challenge are some of our most enthusiastic students and I look forward to taking the Kirkhill team to the national final.”
Last year’s winning invention, with sponsorship from Wood Group, is now being developed by students at RGU. Alan Owen, a research fellow at the university, was part of a team from RGU who attended this year’s event as advisers to the pupils. He said “We live in a high technology society. It is vital that we boost interest in Science and Technology among young people. This is the age group we need to inspire to become the scientists and engineers of tomorrow.”
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