Students Engineer a Sustainable Future with the Smallpeice Trust Low Carbon Energy Challenge
From 22nd to 25th July, 50 students from across the UK attended a residential course to find out 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.
Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, August 11, 2013 --(PR.com)-- 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. 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.”
Steve Ludlow, Senergy’s CSR Steering Group Chair, said: “We are delighted to support such a worthwhile initiative. We believe there is an increasing need to provide low carbon energy through the use of renewable and carbon storage and we have a strategy to be part of that change through the development of our alternative energy business. We are therefore very pleased to be involved with this worthwhile project, attended by youngsters 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 20,353 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2014 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:
Word Count: 563
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 12 to 18.
In the past academic year, The Smallpeice Trust has reached out to 20,353 young people through 33 different subsidised residential courses, 1-day in-school STEM Days and STEM-in-a-Box kits. The Smallpeice Trust has also trained 913 teachers to enhance their delivery of STEM in the classroom.
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.
Senergy’s services encompass alternative energy solutions, geosciences, reservoir engineering, geohazard assessment, marine site surveys, rig positioning, wells engineering and operations, production optimisation, reserve and asset evaluation, facilities engineering and project management. Senergy also develops and supports innovative software technologies including Interactive Petrophysics and Oilfield Data Manager. For more information about Senergy, visit: www.senergyworld.com.
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. 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.”
Steve Ludlow, Senergy’s CSR Steering Group Chair, said: “We are delighted to support such a worthwhile initiative. We believe there is an increasing need to provide low carbon energy through the use of renewable and carbon storage and we have a strategy to be part of that change through the development of our alternative energy business. We are therefore very pleased to be involved with this worthwhile project, attended by youngsters 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 20,353 students across the UK in the past year.
The new course timetable for 2014 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:
Word Count: 563
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 12 to 18.
In the past academic year, The Smallpeice Trust has reached out to 20,353 young people through 33 different subsidised residential courses, 1-day in-school STEM Days and STEM-in-a-Box kits. The Smallpeice Trust has also trained 913 teachers to enhance their delivery of STEM in the classroom.
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.
Senergy’s services encompass alternative energy solutions, geosciences, reservoir engineering, geohazard assessment, marine site surveys, rig positioning, wells engineering and operations, production optimisation, reserve and asset evaluation, facilities engineering and project management. Senergy also develops and supports innovative software technologies including Interactive Petrophysics and Oilfield Data Manager. For more information about Senergy, visit: www.senergyworld.com.
Contact
The Smallpeice Trust:
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
Contact
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