Aquinas places 1st and 2nd Place in STEM Ambassadors Competition.

Team ‘The Pentagon’ & ‘Goats on Boats’ placed 1st and 2nd place in a local STEM Ambassadors Competition with their individually designed STEM in a BOX project. This competition was sponsored by stemeducationltd.co.uk/young-engineer-ambassadors

The four Aquinas teams alongside two teams from St. Ronan’s College, Lurgan and Rathmore Grammar, Belfast presented their individual ‘STEM in a BOX’ projects which they have been designing, building and testing over the last few months. All the Aquinas teams tested their ideas with KS3 Aquinas pupils before teaching a number of primary school students in St. Michael’s Primary School, Belfast in December.

Twenty Lower Sixth Students from Aquinas worked very hard on their individual projects. The Pentagon designed a ‘rocket’ that was powered by fizzy water, Goats and Boats designed a ‘paddle boats that speeded along in water on the power of an elastic band. STEMina produced a carousel that demonstrated the power of rotary motion, whereas The Tenacious Turtles were very eco-friendly within their sustainable windmill which was made from entirely recycled materials.

On Wednesday 23rd March they presented their project alongside their evaluations for further improvement to a panel of judges. Maurice Girvin from STEM Education, (Competition Organiser), Kelly McClintock from Phoenix Gas, Kevin Morgan from Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queens University, Belfast and Ralph Livery from Queens University, Belfast. The judges were very impressed with the range of ideas presented and with the quality of the work from all the candidates. Mr. Kevin Morgan delivered a very interesting key note speech on the role of Chemistry/Chemical Engineering in solutions to our ongoing energy Crisis, this was followed back by feedback to all the teams by Ms Kelly McClintock from Phoenix Gas and Mr. Ralph Livery presented the prizes. Thanks to all for their time and dedication to making this a very enjoyable morning.

All the pupils had a great day explaining their work and are to be congratulated on their achievements as well as the support from their teachers. Aquinas Grammar – Mary O’Brien, St. Ronan’s, Lurgan – Mrs Lyn Graham and Mr Andrew Donnelly from Rathmore Grammar. Please see pictures below of the wonderful products they created.