Amazon has today launched a competition to invite primary school-age children across Cambridgeshire to play their part in the future of science and technology as part of its Amazon in the Community investment programme.
The more than 200 schools in the Cambridgeshire area are eligible to enter the competition, which encourages students in Years Two to Five to draw or build their own interpretation of a model delivery drone using materials found in their everyday lives. The ‘Design a Drone’ competition has been developed in-line with requirements of the National Science Curriculum.
Winners in two categories, ‘Build’ or ‘Draw,’ will have the opportunity to tour Amazon Prime Air’s Development Centre in Cambridge where their designs will be exhibited for a month. Winners and runners–up will also compete for £3,500 cash prizes, Amazon Fire tablets and baskets of teaching resources for their class.
The first 50 schools to register interest at http://designadrone.uk will receive a free starter pack of craft materials to get their students’ creative juices flowing.
The competition forms part of the Amazon in the Community investment programme supporting the communities in and around where it operates in the UK. The programme focuses on helping children succeed in today’s digital society, including creating a positive learning environment, helping young people into work and developing essential skills in literacy and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Amazon has a Development Centre in Cambridge working on a range of projects including Prime Air, the company’s future delivery system designed to safely get packages to customers in 30 minutes or less using drones.
Lauren Kisser, Operations Director at Amazon Prime Air, commented: “At Amazon we are always searching for new ideas. We are excited by the potential of science and technology every day, and we want young people to share in that. Our ‘Design a Drone’ competition is intended to help primary school children, their teachers and their parents think about science in a new way. We can’t wait to see their creations.”
Teachers can register their interest and download competition materials at http://designadrone.uk/.
The competition runs until 21October. Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and will be announced on 9 November. Judges include Mayor of Cambridge Jeremy Benstead, Lewis Herbert, leader of the Cambridge City Council, Gillian Beasley, chief executive of Cambridgeshire County Council and Jonathan Nicholson, assistant director of corporate communications, UK Civil Aviation Authority.