This year’s competition asks students to apply technology to help create a positive future for everyone as we live through this global pandemic. The UK competition launches in parallel with PA’s Netherlands edition of the competition, which is taking place for the third time.
PA’s annual Raspberry Pi Competition promotes STEM education by challenging schoolchildren to invent products and processes that could benefit society using their technology and coding skills.
Students will use their ingenuity to innovate for a better world as we navigate the coronavirus pandemic, and will be challenged to consider how we can develop a cleaner, safer and more sustainable world, get urgent supplies to those who need them most and be better prepared for the unexpected.
Teams compete across four categories based on their academic years: years 4-6, years 7-9, years 10-11 and years 12-13. Three finalists from each category are invited to the PA Raspberry Pi Awards Day event in April 2021. A panel of expert judges will select a winner from each of the four categories, who will be awarded with £1,000 for their school or college.
Anita Chandraker, Board member at PA Consulting and sponsor for the competition, said: “The ingenuity of children is remarkable, and this competition is designed to inspire them and spark ideas. At PA, we understand the power of combining technology and innovation, and each year I am amazed by the commitment, teamwork, and technical ability displayed by young people – as well as their enthusiasm for creating a positive human future.”
“COVID-19 has been a once-in-a-generation challenge. But, as we now learn to live with it, we’re seeing examples of how new thinking and solutions are emerging. The impact of the pandemic will be felt for some time to come, and so it seemed only fitting to make this the theme of this year’s competition.”
Penny Bunting, a teacher at King Edward VI Grammar School, a 2017 competition winner, added: “Since taking part in the PA Raspberry Pi competition, I’ve noticed the students’ teamwork and cooperation skills improve significantly. Putting theoretical concepts from lessons into practice and going beyond basic lesson material is a great opportunity for the students. Thanks to initiatives such as this competition, younger students, who take part in club activities, realise that engineering can be a possible and fun career for them.”