Young inventors of the future challenged
Students’engineering skills at Pump It Up Challenge
Engineers of the future took to the stage at Howden Park Centre last Monday night at the grand final of the Mitsubushi Pump It Up Challenge.
More than 1000 pupils from all 11 West Lothian high schools competed for a spot in the final of the challenge sponsored by Mitsubishi and organised by West Lothian Chamber of Commerce.
The teams consisting of pupils from each school were tasked to come up with an innovative creation for an energy efficient heat pump that can turn cold air into hot air and vice-versa.
After an extended judging session, the team from Armadale Academy with their idea for a heat pump that could cool and heat down aircraft was named the winner.
Runners- up were James Young High School and Inveralmond Community High School.
At the final pupils pitched their ideas to a special panel of judges, including SumidaSan President of the Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning System Europe and other senior representatives from the public and private sector, who collectively decided on the overall winner of the competition.
Consul General of Japan, Daisuke Matsunaga was also in attendance and he was impressed with the standard of ideas which included a heated kennel, a stretcher that could be cooled down or heated up, a heating system in a maternity unit operated by a hospital morgue and a heater and cooler for a greenhouse or reptile house.
He said: “Scotland has a wonderful history of inventors, the first Ultrasound was developed here, this nation has John Logie Baird, James Watt, so many inventions and I am sure that at this final we have seen the future Steve Jobs as their ideas have been so impressive.”
Linda Scott, CEO for West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, said: “This competition is all about encouraging Scotland’s younger generation to think outside the box and come up with clever and innovative ideas that give them a greater understandingng of technology and engineering.
“Ultimately, we are looking to help our younger generations learn and develop new skills and competitions such as these are great for this because they tap into a number of different skill sets such as creativity and teamwork.”
MSP Angela Constance spoke to guests at the end of the final.
She told the gathered pupils, parents and invited dignitaries: “I am honoured to be here tonight and am extremely proud of these young people who have shown such impressive innovation and ideas.
“And I am particularly impressed to see girls taking part as myself and fellow cabinet minister Fiona Hyslop are backing a campaign to encourage girls to follow science and engineering career paths.
“I urge these pupils to keep holding on to their good ideas as in the future I am sure they will all be successes and continue to make us proud.
“When we think about the future and we see how impressive these young people are, I am proud.”