• Proud sponsors of the 2020 Rotary Technology Tournament

    Student teams rise to the challenge of building a Beacon

FFEI SPONSOR THE 2020 ROTARY TECHNOLOGY TOURNAMENT

Organised by Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted Rotary clubs

Each year students are set a novel challenge to complete. This year each team had the task of designing and building a beacon, which supports at its highest point an automatic electric flashing light and an advertising hoarding.

Teams of students from three age groups took part, the requirements becoming more demanding for the older groups. The beacons of Foundation students must simply flash as many times as possible, but Intermediate teams must produce lights that flash at least 20 times. Advanced teams must be able to control the frequency of their flashing lights.

We were delighted with the interesting range of solutions developed – a great day was enjoyed by all.

Beacon solutions being judged at the Hemel Hempstead & Berkhamsted Rotary Technology Tournament 2020

Students were required to consider a number of possible solutions to the task; select and develop the most appropriate one; and then construct their beacon from the pack of materials supplied. Each team had to also compile a project portfolio containing all their design work and other information.

Finally, each team had to demonstrate to the judges and the other participants how well their beacon fulfilled the task objectives.

Certificates are presented to the top three winning teams in each age sector.

Very happy award winners being presented with their shield and certificates

As well as sponsoring the event FFEI staff were called upon to judge the final solutions. Andy Cook, Managing Director of FFEI commented, “It is always a pleasure and an honour to judge the many innovative solutions developed by the students – and very difficult to decide the winners!” Cook continued “Most importantly this event helps spark a greater interest in STEM subjects (science, technology engineering and maths) in younger people. The Rotary Technology Tournament, organised by Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted Rotary clubs, does a fantastic job, helping nurture the creative minds of budding young engineers and scientists.  This is the 8th time we have sponsored the event and would like to thank all the Rotarians for fantastic job, well done!”

This year’s Hemel Hempstead and Berkhamsted Technology Tournament took place on Thursday 12th March at Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted.

Technology Tournaments are accredited by The British Science Association so that every participant successfully completing the TT day can apply for a CREST Discovery Award.