Year 8 students became real-life engineers for a day when they researched, designed and built solutions to real engineering problems as part of the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Faraday Challenge Day. 36 Year 8 students took part and our winning team consisted of Joseph Legerton, Lucy Miskell, Amelie Holder, Poppy Ungar and Harry Critichlow.
This year’s challenge is in association with the James Webb Space Telescope, but the brief for these young engineers is shrouded in secrecy to avoid unfair preparation and research. Teams must race against the clock to solve a real-life engineering problem, putting their engineering and technology knowledge and skills to the test.
Natalie Clerke, IET Faraday Education Manager, said, “Students who take part in the Faraday Challenge Days this year will experience working as an engineer through hands-on and practical engagement with real-life challenges relating to the James Webb Space Telescope.”
“There is huge demand for new engineers and technicians and we’re confident that this will challenge young people’s perceptions of engineers and inspire the next generation, by giving them an insight into the life of a real engineer, the variety a career in engineering can offer and just how exciting and creative engineering is.”
The event aims to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by using creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.
GMS are proud of the students who took part and of the teachers who invested time and energy to ensure the event was a success.