Pupils go Green!
Could you design, build and race an electric car? Young enterprising engineers and technologists from schools in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Caithness and Clackmannanshire took up the Shell-Greenpower challenge to do just that!
Over 120 pupils will come together on Sunday 22nd June at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford to drive their cars and compete against each other for a chance to take their cars to Goodwood! Shell has sponsored the event and will also fund the winning team to represent Scotland and travel to Goodwood for the National Final. Jim Niven, Shell's Stakeholder Manager said: "We are delighted to support this event to encourage kids to take an interest in engineering and technology. It gives them an invaluable opportunity to experience these subjects hands on, while also gaining skills in teamwork, business, design and marketing. On top of this the whole process of planning, building and racing the cars is great fun for them. We wish everybody a very enjoyable day out."
The project is divided into separate 'Formulae' to suit different age groups and to allow continuity from Primary right through to S6 : Primary 7 (Formula Goblin – a 24volt electric motor and 2x12volt batteries); S1-S4 (Formula 24 – a 24 volt electric motor and 4x12 volt batteries) and post 16 years (Formulae 35 and Catapult – as F24 with added suspension). Each stage builds and develops the skills gained from the previous Formula. Students are encouraged to run this project as a racing team focusing not just on the engineering challenge but also to consider the marketing, sponsorship and business aspects involved.
The project was initiated and managed by TechFest-SetPoint, a charity organisation whose aim is to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths to young people
(they organise the science festival TechFest).
It is hoped that this will become an annual event and that more schools and/or clubs will take up the challenge next year!
Notes to Editors
1) Photocall - Members of the press are invited to the event on Sunday 22nd June at the Grampian Transport Museum, Alford. The event begins at 10.30, with the primary school car race from 10.30-11.30am, and the secondary F24 cars racing from 12-4pm. The event finishes at 4.30pm. If you would like to attend the event or require further information, Contact: Frances Chapman at f.c.chapman@abdn.ac.uk; Tel: 01224 274191.
2) TechFest-SetPoint is a charity organisation promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to school children and the wider community. www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk
3) Greenpower is a national project which has been running since 1999 and is designed to promote and encourage young people to develop an interest in and understanding of engineering and technology: www.greenpower.co.uk
4) Shell U.K. Limited is a leader in the UK sector of the North Sea, operating on behalf of Shell, Esso and other co-venturers. It employs directly and indirectly around 5000 in Scotland (circa 9000 in the UK) with about half of the Scottish total based at the Aberdeen headquarters of the Exploration and Production division. The company also operates 3 onshore gas plants stationed at St. Fergus, near Peterhead, and at Bacton, in Norfolk, along with the Mossmorran NGL (natural gas liquids) plant in Fife. Offshore, the company has interests in 59 fields and is operator of 50 of those with 34 platforms and 3 Floating Production Storage Offtake (FPSO) vessels, and 16 subsea installations. As operator it produces around 20% of overall UK oil and gas production.
Participating Schools |
Arbroath Academy |
Alford Academy |
Banchory Academy |
Banff Academy |
Bankhead Academy |
Carnoustie High School |
Cordyce School |
Dollar Academy |
Forfar Academy |
Thurso High School |
Wick High School |
Banchory Primary School |
Walker Road Primary School Tullos Primary School |
16th Jun 2008
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