Build a wave-power model and win a prize
As part of the Saltire Prize, children in all Scottish schools are invited to enter a competition to help develop the nation’s wave power potential. Junior Saltire Award entries can be from a team of four pupils or a whole class and there are school prizes of up to £750 to be won.
The idea is to devise a generator that can make power from the movement of the sea’s waves. There are three categories, each one with requirements suited to the age group.
Primary five to seven pupils must design and build a simple wave powered generator to operate from a floating platform or from a beam placed across a test tank.
S1 and S3 pupils must design and build a simple wave powered generator and construct a model wave machine to work in conjunction with the generator.
Pupils in S4 to S6 have to design a wave powered generator, a wave-making machine to work in conjunction with the generator and a model to demonstrate the transmission of the power to produce light.
Teams are being asked to register for the competition by 31 January and submit their design blueprint by 29 February. The next step is to create a working model by 30 April.
Nine schools will be chosen as finalists from all the Scottish entries. They will be invited for an all-expenses-paid trip to try out their designs at the University of Strathclyde’s test tank on 7 June and attend the SCDI’s Celebration of Engineering and Science Showcase event at Glasgow’s Science Centre on 8 June.
Dr Lesley Sawers, Chief Executive Officer of the SCDI, said: ‘Scotland’s natural resources and our young people are two of our greatest assets. It’s vital that we get the message across to school pupils about the huge potential of harnessing the powers of Scotland’s land and sea for renewable energy. The Awards challenge young people across Scotland to research the issues around marine renewables and come up with innovative ideas for new energy solutions. This is the pipeline of talent that will help make Scotland’s ambition of being a world leader in renewables a reality.’
In April 2008 the Scottish Government set up the Scotland’s £10million challenge to accelerate the commercial development of marine energy. Scotland boasts a quarter of Europe’s tidal power and a tenth of its wave power.
Full details of how to enter the competition are available by clicking the picture on the right.
For further information please contact:
Audrey Simpson, SDS communications
0141 285 6207 or audrey.simpson@sds.co.uk.
