Bright sparks get powered up

A group of local sprouts were green fingered last week but didn’t get their hands dirty growing plants; they designed and built their own eco-friendly car with help from the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

A team of 10 pupils from North Walls Community School took part in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Greenpower event which sees young people design, build and race their own cars in a drive to promote an interest in science and engineering.

They entered the Formula Goblin competition and were tasked with designing and building a small electric kit car, giving the P5 to P7 pupils a basic knowledge of the engineering skills needed to construct a car while encouraging them to think green.

The group finished fifth place when they took their motor to the track at the Grampian Transport Museum at Alford, Aberdeenshire, competing alongside 29 teams from schools across the north and east of Scotland in a series of races.

The pupils, who had sponsorship from EMEC, also received a special commendation for their portfolio and their scale model.

Eileen Linklater, EMEC’s client relationship and marketing manager said: “We were extremely happy to support the team and were really pleased to hear how well they did in finishing fifth out of 29 teams after building their own car; it’s a fantastic achievement.

“The event is a great idea as it is an exciting way for young people to gain an insight into engineering while demonstrating the importance of electrical power as a sustainable source of energy – it’s something which will become increasingly important for Orkney in the future, and these youngsters are our future workforce.”

Cameron Stout, the class teacher for the group at North Walls Community School said: “The project is a fantastic way to encourage children to take an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects while encouraging creativity, enthusiasm and co-operation which are invaluable skills for any young person.

“EMEC were an ideal sponsor for us as not only does it have a strong tie to the theme of the competition but it is great for our pupils to have a connection with a local organisation which is proving to the world the value of renewable energy which the children have on their doorsteps.”