This year Aquinas teamed up with Andor Technology for the Sentinus Team R+D programme. This scheme offers Year 13 Science and Technology students a unique opportunity to work with industry professionals in solving an issue directly related to the company’s operation.

The Aquinas team comprised four Year 13 students, namely Laura Erne, Paul Leggett, Michael Robinson and Aoife Shirlow. Their objective was to design a specialised hinge to overcome the problems associated with the current design of the Andor Laser Combiner (ALC). The task was intriguing as it presented a genuine difficulty encountered by engineers which required an immediate and effective solution.

Starting in October 2011, the team researched, designed and developed a hinge system to solve the problem. The culmination of the project occurred on 24th April when the team members presented their solution to engineers and were highly commended for their solution and presentation, each being awarded the CREST Gold award for their work.

The students would like to acknowledge and thank the Andor Technology engineers, Richard Kee and Stephen McKenzie, for their unstinting help in the successful completion of the project.