CSES Schools' Engineering and Technology Competition by Joe, year 10 from KEGS
I'm Joe, and I took part in the 2011 CSES Schools' Engineering and Technology Competition. I entered a project I had done at an after school science and engineering club at my school. We were required to design and build a mode of transport for less than £10, and produce a project folder fully evaluating the steps we took to build our vehicle, and analyse the final product. I also put this forward for a silver CREST Award. My friend Dan and I looked at several types of transport to build, but decided on a hovercraft. Designing this hovercraft was a good way of developing our design skills, both on CAD and on paper. After building several prototypes, we decided on the one below.
Being able to build and test these prototypes was a great, practical way of learning vital Technology and Engineering skills such as problem solving. Completing the project folder also taught us a lot about evaluation and presentation, and about the harsh reality of deadlines! It was very fun building and painting our vehicle, and the sense that we'd really achieved something was brilliant.
We took our vehicle and the 30-page project folder to the judging event at Anglia Ruskin University, organised by CSES, and talked at great lengths to several of the judges about what we had built, how we had built it and what we had learned along the way. It was great being able to tell people about what we had done, and to meet and talk to engineers and learn about the opportunities that are available to us. It was an added bonus to the day that we won our category! We really enjoyed taking part in this competition, and feel like we'd really achieved something. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Engineering or thinks that it's something they'd maybe like to do as a career, as you can learn a lot, and I'd like to thank CSES for the opportunity.
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By Richard, Year 13, sponsored by BT
Just applying to be an Arkwright Scholar gave me skills that would be useful for a career in Engineering. Drafting my application, sitting the scholarship exam and going for interview were all good experience for a future career and for the university application process. Actually being a Arkwright Scholar has allowed me to pay for a Smallpeice course on Mobile Communications, as well as opening up opportunities to visit companies and institutions that have links with the Arkwright Trust. These opportunities, along with the prestige of the scheme, will mean that being an Arkwright Scholar will continue to be an asset even after I have completed my 6th form Studies.
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