Pupils from North-east schools have triumphed in this year’s STEM in the Pipeline competition, which tasked them with finding a solution to an oil and gas challenge.
Sedimentary, my dear Watson from Oldmachar Academy took first prize, 6-ess from St Margaret’s School for Girls was awarded second prize and Wildcat Explorations from Robert Gordon’s College took third at today’s final BP’s North Sea headquarters in Dyce.
An additional prize for innovation was awarded to Elite Solutions from Aboyne Academy for the use of 3D printing.
RGB, one of two teams from Robert Gordon’s College, was also awarded the MER UK accolade for Maximising Economy Recovery.
Run by TechFest, STEM in the Pipeline began in August, when 12 teams of senior pupils from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire schools were set an oil field challenge designed to test their skills in physics, maths, chemistry and geology.
STEM in the Pipeline is supported by BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, Energy Institute and the University of Aberdeen.
Each organisation provided volunteer mentors who gave up their time to offer guidance and support to the pupils throughout the project.
The teams took part in a series of challenges to produce a Field Development Plan for the fictional STEM oil field.
The tasks included subsurface work, production profiling, separator design, safety and the calculation of CO2 emissions, with the aim of engaging the young people in science, technology, engineering and maths work.
The teams were asked to submit a report to TechFest and each group gave a presentation to a panel of assessors, who also provided written feedback on the individual projects.
Oldmachar Academy was praised by the judges for a “very well written report, great presentation and fabulous stand”.
The team of S6 pupils was made up of Kieran Mann, James Low, Joseph Brown, Chloe Gibb, Likhit Macharla and Steven Simpson.
This was the first time Oldmachar Academy had entered STEM in the Pipeline and project manager Likhit said the team had all hugely benefited from taking part.
“We are chuffed for the whole team, we didn’t know where we would be placed so we’re really pleased to have won and we all really enjoyed it,” he said. “Taking part in STEM in the Pipeline has improved our communication skills, although we were friends before we started the project, and although we had a good idea of what working in the oil and gas industry involved, we were surprised by the level of technology that exists in the sector.”
TechFest's education manager, Molly Imrie, said: “The STEM in the Pipeline project gives secondary school pupils a brilliant opportunity to use their knowledge and skills to solve a problem which is relevant to the oil and gas industry.
“The project teaches them about teamwork, communication and planning, as well as research and investigation and working with a mentor. This gives them a real insight into what it would be like to work in the energy sector so we are very grateful to our sponsors and supporters, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, the Oil and Gas Authority, the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain, the Energy Institute and the University of Aberdeen for their ongoing support.
“With the support of their mentors and academics, the students have put in a lot of hard work over the past three months, outside of their normal school work, and the final event gave them the chance to present their research and findings to the industry professionals who have kindly given their time to help with the project.
“Congratulations to all the winners and well done to everyone who took part.”
For the energy companies which support the initiative, STEM in the Pipeline plays a key role in inspiring young people’s interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
All the pupils who take part in STEM in the Pipeline will also be eligible for the Silver CREST Award, Britain’s national award scheme for work in the STEM subjects.
Now in its 10th year, STEM in the Pipeline was extended to the Central Belt and Shetland for the first time this year, thanks to funding from the OGA, part of a UK Government package of measures to support the oil and gas industry.
The grant has seen schools in West Lothian, North Lanarkshire and Shetland taking part in a separate challenge, with the teams due to present their findings early next year.
As well as a year-round programme of educational events for schools and young people, TechFest runs the highly popular TechFest in September science festival, which attracts tens of thousands of children and adults to a series of STEM-based events in and around Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. For more information, please visit www.techfestsetpoint.org.uk