Given the current circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic it quickly became clear that Techfest would not be able to run their usual programme of events in the way they normally would. However, in a year where many senior pupils will miss out on opportunities of work experience and other extracurricular activities, they were hopeful that they could provide opportunities and projects to help fill this void. As such, TechFest is delighted to announce they will be running two projects this term that have been reimagined and designed to be fully digital and sympathetic to the circumstances, while maintaining the best parts of the projects we love.
Information for both these projects is provided below:
TechFest’s STEM in the Pipeline – Energising the Transition Essay Competition 2020
TechFest are delighted to announce the launch of TechFest’s STEM in the Pipeline – Energising the Transition Essay Competition.
This competition is open to S5 and S6 students and is a solo research project. The full project guidelines are attached but in essence the students are researching a topic or question that is related to the energy industry (students are welcome to set their own essay topic, but examples are also provided in the attached guidelines). As part of their research each student must interview (via phone call or zoom/teams chat) at least one external industry professional. Students are welcome to make their own contacts but a database of industry professionals that the students can contact will also be provided.
Students that are interested in taking part should register their interest no later than 13th September by emailing marthagavan@techfest.org.uk. All students that register will be emailed a starting pack on 14th September with all the information (as well as some handy hints and tips!) they will require to write and submit their essay.
Key Dates
Deadline to register interest: 13/09/20
Deadline for essay submission: 09/11/20
Winning essays announced: 01/12/20
TechFest’s STEM in the Installation Phase 4 https://bridgeofdon.aberdeen.sch.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/TechFest-STEM-in-the-Installation-Nomination-Form-2020.docx
STEM in the Installation is a team challenge (max. of 6 students per team) for S6 pupils. This year, as well as being translated into a fully digital project. The challenge itself has undergone an extensive revamp. The project now focuses on how the Energy Industry is transitioning to reduce carbon emissions as much as possible, as part of the global movement towards net zero.
Inspired by CNOOC Internationals Buzzard Platform, students are challenged to develop a proposal to install and connect an offshore wind farm to the facility, which will generate power for the installation and reduce the amount of gas import required to provide electricity.
Throughout the course of the project students will have the opportunity to seek help and guidance (through digital meetups) from an enthusiastic team of CNOOC International volunteers who are on hand to help the students with the technical aspects of the challenge, as well as running seminars on project management, report writing and presenting.
The project will launch on 15th September when the competing teams will be emailed a copy of the task book and all additional project materials (including a link to several pre-recorded lectures and resources that the students can refer to throughout the course of the project). Digital Q&A sessions with the industry professional will be organised at a time that in convenient to the competing students and the sponsors. In addition, throughout the course of the project students can submit questions via a tender process. All questions should be sent to myself by email which I will then forward on to the team of industry professionals to answer (I will ensure that whichever team asked the question remains anonymous). The questions and the answer will then be sent round all the competing teams.
The competing students must submit an electronic copy of their report by the 20th November. The project then concludes with a digital Presentation Day on the 4th December where students are tasked with presenting their work, and the winning teams will be announced.
To register a team please submit the attached nomination from to marthagavan@techfest.org.uk no latter than 11th September. Unfortunately, we can only accommodate six teams at this time, so places will be reserved on a first come first saved basis.
Key Dates
11th September: deadline to register (limited places available)
15th September: project launch
20th November: report deadline
4th December: digital Presentation Day