Pupils engineer success at celebration event
MORE than 80 Moray pupils showcased their engineering skills at a competition in Elgin yesterday.
Primary and Secondary pupils attended the Moray Primary Engineer Celebration event, battling for a place at the regional final later this year.
Shoebox and electronic vehicles were designed and produced by primary pupils, who completed a series of tests and raced their creations down ramps to see which went furthest.
Winners of Apprentice Level 1 and 2 were Aberlour Primary Team 1 and East End Primary Team 1, while St Gerardine Primary Team 1 won at Engineer Level. East End Primary Team 2 were awarded a special prize for Best Communicator, while Mortlach Primary Team 1 won Best Theme for their flying tractor design.
Secondary pupils demonstrated their impressive prototypes and final designs of hydraulic cranes, with an S1/S2 team from Keith Grammar taking the crown, after the practical tests. A special award was given to Buckie High pupils for their design.
The competition is just one of the events and initiatives to inspire young people to pursue STEM subjects.
Moray Council’s Primary Science Development Officer, Janey Irving, said it was a great success and thanked all those who helped make it happen.
She said: “The pupils who had secured their space at the Moray Celebration Event enjoyed seeing everyone else’s designs. Although all the primary pupils worked to the same brief, every vehicle created was so different; they had considered all elements of the design – what would make it go faster, or stick to the ramp better.
“The secondary pupils brought their designs and prototypes along to be assessed, which showed they’re developing engineering “habits of mind” – that they’re thinking like an engineer does. They’re also developing their skills in creativity, maths, design, teamwork and problem solving.
“Big thanks go to Moray College UHI for hosting, especially to their STEM Co-ordinator Sam Bright, and to DYW Moray, Primary Engineer, Sweco and Mott MacDonald for the introduction of the training programme and being ambassadors for STEM learning in Moray.”
Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live. Nestling between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands, Moray stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Brodie Castle in the west.