Students Engineer a Sustainable Future with the Smallpeice Trust

Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, July 29, 2012 --(PR.com)-- From 23rd to 26th July, 50 students from across the UK attended a residential course to learn more about low carbon energy sources. Sponsored by global energy services company Senergy, this course enabled the 15 and 16 year old students to spend time learning about new, renewable energy sources such as tidal, wave and wind energy, through a series of presentations and practical exercises.

The course was hosted by The School of Marine Science and Technology at Newcastle University as they are involved in conducting world class research in renewable energy sources, particularly focusing on marine sources. The facilities in the School are unique for conducting this research, in particular the combined wind, wave and tidal current test tank.

Using these state-of-the-art research facilities to conduct their experiments, students were able to study differences between the power sources while learning about the engineering challenges involved in capturing, distributing and storing energy from the environment. They then competed in teams to design and make the most effective and innovative energy capturing devices. Throughout the course students also attended lectures and presentations delivered by engineers and scientists which explored the future of low-carbon energy.

As well as working on the design, build and test elements of the projects, they developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation. Students also had a tour of the university campus, giving them an insight into what it would be like to study there. Social activities included a film evening and a trip to the local bowling alley. On the final night, The Smallpeice Trust hosted a conference style dinner where students and supervisors had the opportunity to socialise and share their experiences of the week.

Gemma Murphy, Head of Marketing and Development for The Smallpeice Trust said: “We are most grateful to Senergy for sponsoring this valuable opportunity for young people. Our quality of life is dependent on ever more sophisticated levels of technology and the energy that powers it which is why this course sought to provide students with an in-depth insight into the problems faced by engineers to find alternative sources to fossil fuels. It is clear from the feedback that the students now have a better understanding of this subject area and realise the significance in finding sustainable energy that does not harm the environment.”

Henry Allen, Head of Business Sustainability for Senergy said: “We appreciate that the current dependency on producing ever-increasing volumes of hydrocarbons is unsustainable and therefore believe that there will be an increasing need to provide low carbon energy through the use of renewable and carbon storage. Our strategy is to be part of that change through the development of our alternative energy business. We are therefore delighted to be supporting an initiative which will open up this topic to youngsters from across the UK who may well be involved in developing strategies to produce low carbon energy in the future.”

The Low Carbon Energy course is run by the independent educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust, as part of an ongoing programme of subsidised residential courses to help young people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 18,175 students across the UK in the past year.

The new course timetable for 2013 will be launched in the Autumn school term. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk, or telephone The Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.

Notes to editors:

About The Smallpeice Trust:

The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 13 to 18.

The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”

About Senergy:

Senergy, which was established in 2005, employs more than 550 people worldwide across its Aberdeen headquarters and through a network of global offices in the UK, Norway, the Middle East, Australia, South East Asia and the Americas.

The company delivers fully integrated project and asset development services across the energy industry, and has rapidly emerged as a global leader in diversified energy services through organic growth and a series of acquisitions.