2014 Junior Saltire Award

 

Calling Scotland’s new marine energy experts

Now is the time to enter the 2014 Junior Saltire Award – register your school by Friday 20 December 2013

 The search is on to find the pupils who could be Scotland’s marine renewables experts of the future and winners the 2014 Junior Saltire Awards.  The competition is managed for the fourth successive year by Skills Development Scotland (SDS), in partnership with SCDI’s Young Engineers and Science Clubs Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government.

The Junior Saltire Prize is open to all schools in Scotland, with three age categories: P5-P7, S1-S3 and S4-S6. Pupils will work in teams of up to four and schools can enter more than one team if they wish.

This year teams will develop a blue print and then design, build and test a simple ‘Hydrokinetic Generator to demonstrate their idea of a tidal energy device in Scottish waters. Shortlisted schools will be invited to test their models at the new FloWave facility at the University of Edinburgh on Wednesday 4 June 2014.

Awards will be presented at the Celebration of Engineering and Science at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh on Thursday 5 June 2014, with school prizes of up to £750 and medals up for grabs.

JUNIOR SALTIRE AWARD – KEY DATES FOR TEACHERS & TEAMS:

  • Friday 20 December 2013 – register team entries on SDS website
  • 28 February 2014 – submit design blueprints – the first 50 teams to submit design blueprints will receive a grant of £50 towards the cost of materials (one grant per school)
  • Wednesday 4 June 2014 – short-listed teams invited to showcase design at the FloWave facility at the University of Edinburgh. For more information on this facility, please go to: http://www.flowavett.co.uk/the-facility
  • Thursday 5 June 2014 – final judging and award ceremony at the Celebration of Engineering and Science at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Fergus Ewing MSP, Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, said:  “Scotland leads the world in renewable energy, and we have tremendous potential, both in our natural resources, and in our talented and inspired young people. Many of these young people will one day find themselves working in exciting new job opportunities in the marine renewables industry. The Junior Saltire Award celebrates that talent, and I’d encourage teams from all over Scotland to apply.”

Rob Orr, Strategic Relations Manager, Energy of SDS said:  “This is an exciting time for marine renewables which offers good career prospects in a growing sector with a good positive image.  As the demand for renewable energy grows and new technologies emerge we need to encourage more young people to consider this option as they move through the education sector. The Junior Saltire Award helps to develop an awareness of marine renewables and encourages our young people to explore careers and investigate the skills that are required to work in this industry.”

Ross Martin, CEO SCDI, added:  “The Junior Saltire Award recognises the ingenuity of the young inquiring mind. It encourages groups of pupils of different ages to tackle key issues of our time, marine renewable energy and climate change, through their individual innovation and collective application. I wholeheartedly support this initiative as a way in which to celebrate the positive role that young people can play in developing a future Scotland through their interest in engineering and science.”

Tom Davey of FloWave, said   ‘We are delighted to invite finalists to test their devices at Edinburgh University’s new FloWave test tank. This brand new state-of-the–art facility offers a unique marine device test facility to allow testing in any combination of current and wave environments.”

Full details of how to enter the competition are available on the Skills Development Scotland website www.sds.co.uk/saltireprize

 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Fiona Riddell, SDS Corporate Communications

Telephone: 0300 013 4392 ~ Mobile: 07887 635389

Email: fiona.riddell@sds.co.uk