Creations put to the test by Young Innovators’ judges

JUDGING is well underway for this year’s Young Innovators Challenge - with students from across the area impressing with their hard work and creations.

Sponsored by science-based technology company 3M and supported by the Loughborough Echo and the Loughborough Learning Alliance, Young Innovators comprises six different competitions based around science, technology, engineering and maths.

One of these competitions is the popular CSI-style Science Detectives Challenge.

Earlier this year, secondary school students visited

Loughborough University’s Department of Chemistry where they were tasked with using a combination of forensic observation, analytical chemistry, social media analysis and suspect profiling to unravel the clues to solve a crime scene scenario.

Since then, 18 groups have been working on their theories before making presentations to judges Dr Audrey Matthews, former Principal Lecturer at De Montfort University, and Callum Crane, chemistry teaching technician at Loughborough University.

Dr Matthews said: “We were delighted to deliver this challenge from Loughborough University this year and I want to say that Callum has designed a great scenario that the students have found a great challenge and engaged in fully.

“It is wonderful to see such a high standard of science resulting from this investigation.”

Mr Crane added: “I am astounded by the talent that students have displayed.

“For people so young to have such an in depth understanding is fantastic. “I have high hopes for the future!” Judging for the brand new Tower Tech Challenge also took place last week.

Young Innovators worked with the School of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University to create this challenge where the goal is to design and build a three-part free-standing tower, maximising its slenderness and load capacity while minimising its total mass.

A variety of different designs were brought to 3M House in Loughborough to be judged by Dr Alessandro Palmeri and Dr Mariateresa Lombardo, both Senior Lecturers in Structural Engineering at Loughborough University.

Judging on the other four challenges will now take place before a special presentation evening for finalists at Loughborough College in June.

To find out more information about the 3M Young Innovators Challenges, please visit the website: 3m. co.uk/younginnovators

Judges Dr Alessandro Palmeri and Dr Mariateresa Lombardo from the School of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University test the Titanic Tower entry into the Tower Tech Challenge.

Judges Dr Audrey Matthews and Callum Crane listen to theories presented for the Science Detectives Challenge at this year’s Young Innovators competition.

Matthew Drury, Sam France, Tom Frankland and Tom Williams from Loughborough Grammar School who took part in the Science Detectives Challenge .

Judge Dr Alessandro Palmeri from the School of Civil and Building Engineering at Loughborough University tests one of the entries into the Tower Tech Challenge.

The Year 8 team from De Lisle Academy with their ‘Poseptune’s Quindent’ Tower which was entered into the Tower Tech Challenge.

Woodbrook Vale School’s Year 8 and 9 team with their Titanic Tower entry into the Tower Tech Challenge as part of the 2017 Young Innovators Challenge.