Young innovators celebrate at award nights

Winners of the hotly contested 3M Young Innovators Challenge were presented with their prizes by the local MP at celebration events held in Bracknell and Loughborough.

The finalists were invited to attend the event to showcase their creations in the competition that is designed to inspire a love of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects in young people.

This year, more than 300 pupils from a total of 28 Berkshire and Leicestershire schools took part in three challenges: the Mighty Monument Challenge; the Slo-Mo Marble Challenge; and the new Aero Tech Challenge.

The winners of each challenge received £750 for their school to buy science and engineering equipment as well as a £50 gift voucher for individuals. In addition, all students taking part in the competition earned a British Science Association CREST Award.

The Loughborough event was held at Charnwood Campus. Member of Parliament for Loughborough, Jane Hunt, was the guest of honour and presented prizes to the winning teams and individual.

Mighty Monument Challenge

To design and construct a lightweight free-standing structure, supporting STEM learning by encouraging participants to explore structures, forces, stability, gravity and material properties.

The winning Loughborough team, QJABB from Long Whatton Primary School, created an impressive structure inspired by the Queen’s Big Ben, showing an understanding of engineering principles.

Slo-Mo Marble Challenge

A long-term favourite challenge that explores forces and magnets, gravity, energy, friction, gradient and material properties and involves building a marble run using only materials from a given list.

The winning Loughborough team, Techmasters from Rendell Primary School, created a marble run based on a forest theme and incorporated a lot of STEM learning to slow down their marble’s descent.

AeroTech challenge

A new challenge for 2022 to design and build an aircraft - such as an aeroplane, jet, glider, bi-plane or rocket - as well as a launching device to propel it forward to cover the greatest distance.

The Loughborough winner was the designer of the Rocket Blast entry from Merton Primary School who created a high performing glider and launch pad that displayed an understanding of forces, gravity, aerodynamics and material properties.

Speaking at the event, Jane Hunt said that she was impressed with the standard of the STEM skills on display and warmly congratulated all the finalists and winners. When she asked the pupils if they now felt inspired to consider a career as a scientist or an engineer, she was met with a sea of raised hands.

In Bracknell, Member of Parliament for Bracknell Forest, James Sunderland, spent time chatting to the pupils about their work before the awards were presented and enjoyed seeing some of the demonstrations in action.

The winners of the challenges in Bracknell were:

Mighty Monument Challenge

The Fiery Phoenixes from Crowthorne Church of England Primary School. They created an impressive structure inspired by the Washington Monument, showing an understanding of engineering principles.

Slo-Mo Marble Challenge

The Marble Maker Men from Holme Grange Primary School. This team engineered a complex structure incorporating a lot of STEM learning to slow down their marble’s descent.

AeroTech challenge

The Height Achievers from Crowthorne Church of England Primary. They created a high performing glider and launch pad that displayed an understanding of forces, gravity, aerodynamics and material properties.

James Sunderland warmly congratulated all the finalists and winners before handing out the prizes and said that he was impressed with the high standard of the entries that all demonstrated an impressive knowledge of STEM principles.

Speaking about the competition, 3M Communications and Visual Identity manager for the North Europe Region, Julie Owen, said: “Following the celebrations we have received some lovely feedback from schools, with a number of teachers saying that as well as engaging the children in STEM learning, taking part in the challenges has given the pupils a confidence boost.

“A big thank you goes to everyone involved in organising the competitions as well as the judges, including 3M STEM Ambassadors Nayan Mistry, Fay Rochester, Nicky Bradley, Andy Fish and Daniel Morgan.”