QE has maintained its strong record of success in a national team competition that challenges young people to devise innovative ways of powering the cities of the future.
Having won the Shell Bright Ideas Challenge last year – the first time QE had entered – the School took second place in the 2017 competition, winning prize money of £4,000. In addition, the boys each received a tablet computer.
Technology teacher Shane Ryan said: “This represents a great achievement for the School and I congratulate all five boys in our team. The prize money will be invested into teaching resources for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths – the STEM subjects.”
Competition entrants were given the task of using their STEM skills to devise creative solutions to the energy challenges that cities will face in 2050.
The QE team, called TRACESE, came up with the idea of bacteria generators stored under every home that would break down food waste. This process would allow electrons to be extracted, which would, in turn, power households.
As competition prize-winners, they were treated to a VIP experience at Make the Future Live, a four-day festival of ideas and innovation, hosted by Shell at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which featured science shows, hands-on activities, interactive exhibits and careers experiences. They received wristbands allowing them to queue-jump at the exhibits and were given a free lunch, while also enjoying the opportunity to talk to Mathematics expert and TV celebrity Rachel Riley.
The team, all from Year 9, were, Gabriel Bednarkiewicz, Kaustubh Bhatnagar, Agsathan Ilamurugan, Janujan Satchi and Rukshaan Selvendira.