Young prizewinners visit top science facilities

A group of budding science students visited two of the UK’s leading science facilities last week as part of their prize for projects ranging from wave energy predictions to calculating the accuracy of GPS signals.

The students all took part in the finals of the National Science & Engineering Competition at this year’s Big Bang Fair in Manchester, where they were judged to be the winners and runners-up for the Institute of Physics (IOP) prize, awarded for the best physics project.  The prize included a visit to two of the UK’s leading science facilities – Diamond Light Source and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source – hosted by the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire.

Erik Bews (17) and Keith Alexander (18) from Kirkwall Grammar School in Orkney were joint winners.  Erik and Keith, who are preparing to go to university in September to study physics, worked with renewable energy company Scotrenewables Ltd to improve the predictability and accuracy of the company’s wave test facility.

Erik said, “Hopefully research like this could one day lead to improvements in the efficiency of renewable energy production. I’ve learnt so much whilst doing my project. This kind of work shows that physics is an exciting science relevant to our everyday lives – not all to do with sitting in a room crunching numbers! The visit to RAL today also confirmed this.  I’d love to work here when I’m older.”
Erik and Andrew Smith (19) from King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth, Lincolnshire worked during his summer holidays on a project looking at GPS systems. The study, led by Nottingham University, investigated inaccuracies in GPS signals.

Andrew is keen to encourage younger students to get involved in science. “I want to show to others that science is fun, interesting and exciting”, said Andrew.  “Winning the competition has opened so many doors for me. I’m really excited about studying physics further at university.”

The youngest prizewinner was Seamus Curtin (12) from Lathallan School, Montrose.  Seamus was a runner-up in the junior (under 14) category of the National Science and Engineering Competition for his 3D model of local galaxies. He was just 11 when he completed the project, and is a keen astronomer.

The students spent a science-filled day at RAL meeting scientists and touring the ISIS accelerator and experimental halls, and the Diamond Light Source synchrotron.

Dr Beth Taylor, Director of Communications at the IOP presented the students with their certificates. Dr Taylor said ”All four students really enjoyed their day at RAL, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to share their enthusiasm.  It’s very encouraging to see the next generation of physicists coming through.  I’m very grateful to the staff at ISIS and Diamond who made it such an exciting day, and to the British Science Association who organised the competition”.