NYBEP Press Release - Engineering Inspirations 2005
2005-07-22 | Press Release
The prestigious Engineering Inspirations Education Showcase took place at the Yorkshire Air Museum on Tuesday 5th July. A record number of 115 projects were entered by pupils from schools all across the Yorkshire region. This is nearly double that of last year, which itself was a record year, and shows how strongly the challenge has fired the imagination of pupils and teachers. This is indeed the objective of the challenge, to inspire the future engineers and designers who can carry on Yorkshire's proud tradition of engineering excellence, and several hundred pupils will be participating in the event.The Yorkshire Air Museum is proud to be one of the sponsors of this event which is organised by the North Yorkshire Business & Education Partnership. The historic site of the air museum, reflecting Yorkshire's heritage as the birthplace of manned flight, creates the perfect, inspiring venue for the occasion. Yorkshire inventor Sir George Cayley pioneered the concept of the fixed wing aeroplane and it is fitting that the Sir George Cayley Cup and a cheque for £300 was this year awarded to the project judged the overall winner. This is one of 25 Awards for which pupils were competing, either individually or in teams and each winner received a cash prize. The prize fund was created by the many businesses and organisations that kindly sponsor the challenge.
Engineering Inspirations was a lively occasion, with a number of activities for pupils to get involved in as they awaited the results of the judging. These included the DigiBus, miniature locomotive, the solar boat challenge, making and launching paper rockets and planes, the final of the regional Mechathlon (mechanical athlete!) challenge, and to the amusement of the students, even teacher challenges were organised!
The event was opened in style with a short performance from the Manor School Jazz Band, York, with pupils manning their projects whilst the judges make their initial assessments. Another performance by the band took place at 12noon, with a flypast by Tucano aircraft from RAF Linton on Ouse at 12.30pm. After this, pupils engaged in the various activities, with the award Ceremony commencing at 2.30pm. This featured our high profile gusset speaker, Sir Peter Williams, CBE FREng. FRS, Chairman of the U.K. Engineering and Technology Board and the National Physical Laboratory. Sir Peter is also currently the joint patron of WISE (Women into Science and Engineering). This is highly relevant as last years overall winner was Emily Cummins and this year we have several entries from Skipton Girls High School and Bradford Girls Grammar School. Therefore, the event has become somewhat of a battle of the sexes, in addition to being a challenge for both individual and school honour! We are highly delighted that Sir Peter took the time out of his busy schedule to come up from London especially for this event, highlighting the national esteem in which Engineering Inspirations is now held. Sir Peter was very impressed with the high standard of entries and the enthusiasm shown by all entrants, which was reflected in his address during the Award Ceremony.
The overall winner this year, taking the Sir George Cayley Cup to Harrogate Granby High School, was Rose-Marie Almond, whose external remote control for an electric wheelchair won the GSPK sponsored Control Systems award in the 15-16 year old category. This award reflects how many of the pupils turn their ideas towards ways of helping people, illustrating the fact that engineering is present in our lives in many ways that we take for granted.
Paul Murphy, Chief Executive of NYBEP, said: " Schools from as far apart as Skipton and Filey have taken part in this year's Engineering Inspirations and we are all highly delighted with both the huge response and the high quality of the projects entered. Our congratulations go to Rose-Marie and all the winners and entrants who have shown that Yorkshire's engineering heritage is being carried into the future."
List of Sponsors:
Matsui Babcock, British Waterways, Science City York, Portakabin, Graphics Direct, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, Royal Air Force, GSPK Corporate Services, Network Rail, Learning & Skills Council North Yorkshire.
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