The Independent-Bosch Technology Horizons Award

The Independent-Bosch Technology Horizons Award essay competition is administered by the Academy under the Shape the Future banner and has now been running for four years. The essay theme this year was – How can technology and engineering provide innovative solutions for today’s global challenges? The presentation of awards celebration was held at the The Royal Academy of Engineering on Wednesday 1 July where the winners and runners-up were announced.

14 – 18 age group

Winner - Leon Zhang (Urmston Grammar School Manchester)

Runner-up - Jonathan Morris (St Olaves Orpington Kent)

Highly commended
Emily Cullis (Ounsdale 6th Form College Wombourne Wolverhampton)
Max Iles (Worcester 6th Form College)
Constance Mantle (Highgate School London)
Ben Richardson (Cults Academy Aberdeen)
Ethan Simpson (Hawick High School)

19 – 24 age group

Winner – Gavin Harper (Cardiff University)

Runner-up - Alejandro Vicente-Grabovetsky (Cambridge University)

Highly Commended
Thomas Barker (Sheffield Hallam University)
Mohammad bin Jalil (Welbeck Defence 6th Form College Loughborough)
Holly Ferrie (Brunel University)
Su Sean Goh (London School of Economics)
Cole Soutter (Year in Industry - EPSRC)

The £700 top prize in the 14-18 age range went to Leon Zhang of Urmston Grammar School Manchester who wrote about technology solutions not only for the energy crisis but also the much less well-known water crisis. Winning the £1000 top prize in the 19-24 age category was Gavin Harper of the University of Cardiff, who wrote about mass production of energy saving technologies. Both winning essays will be reproduced in the Independent newspaper.

The prizes were awarded by Dr Peter Fouquet, president of Bosch UK and Andy Green, the current world land speed record holder. An RAF pilot in his day job, Andy was the driver of Thrust SSC (SuperSonic Car) that travelled faster than the speed of sound in 1997. Now he and Thrust SSC director Richard Noble plan to break their own record with the jet and hybrid rocket powered Bloodhound SSC, intending to achieve 1000mph (1600 km).

As well as keeping the record in British hands against various international challengers, the main aim of the project is to inspire young people to understand science and engineering in an exciting way. Speaking at the awards celebration, Andy said his view on the single greatest challenge the world faces is 'a desperate shortage of engineers and scientists – the people able to solve the big problems'.

The three-year Bloodhound SSC project takes a significant step forward this weekend as the full-sized Bloodhound 'show car' is unveiled for the first time at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. If you are interested in participating in next year's Technology Horizons Award, the 2010 essay theme will be announced soon.

'Saving tomorrow's world' news release.

 

 

Updated July 2012

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