The competition, which this year focuses on mass, pressure and diffusion, is for year 7 and 8 pupils working in teams of four or five. The objective is to research properties of either mass, pressure or diffusion and devise an experiment to demonstrate the scientific principles. Members of the winning team will receive certificates and prizes as well as an opportunity to visit Michell’s Ely factory for a tour of the facility. Their school will also receive £500 worth of science equipment.
Last year’s competition was held as part of Michell’s 40th anniversary celebrations. It was very successful, with 15 entries from schools around the county, and because of this success the company has decided to make it an annual event. The 2014 competition had the ‘Science of Water’ as a topic and was won by a team from Bottisham Village College. The College chose a selection of much-appreciated science equipment with its prize money, ranging from 100-metre tape measures to a Van Der Graaf generator.
The competition will be judged by a distinguished panel of judges drawn from the worlds of science and business: Mr Mike Bannister (CEO Michell Instruments), Dr Stephanie Bell (National Physical Laboratory), Mr John Elworthy (Editor Ely Standard), Dr Chris Smith (the Naked Scientists) and Dr Peter Wothers (teaching fellow in the Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge).
Any school interested in entering groups in to the competition should contact Sarah Lawrence, sarah.lawrence@michell.com.
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