SCOTTISH youngsters have been given the challenge of coming up with the solution to the next wave in renewable energy.
The 2012 Junior Saltire Awards invites children in primary and secondary schools to come up with wave energy devices to match those being developed on Orkney.
It was set up following the launch of the Saltire Prize by the Scottish Government in 2008, Scotland’s £10million challenge to accelerate the commercial development of marine energy.
It is believed Scotland boasts a quarter of Europe’s tidal power and a tenth of its wave power.
The competition is being run by Skills Development Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
SCDI chief executive Dr Lesley Sawers said: “Scotland’s natural resources and our young people are two of our greatest assets.
“It’s vital that we get the message across to pupils about the huge potential of harnessing the powers of Scotland’s land and sea for renewable energy.”
One of last year’s finalists was a team from Laurencekirk’s Mearns Academy, pictured.
The 2012 award winners, teams of four pupils or entire classes, could be in line to win prizes of up to £750. Teams must be registered by January 31, designs submitted by February 29 and working models created by April 30.
Primary five to seven pupils must design and build a simple wave-powered generator to operate from a floating platform or from a beam placed across a test tank.
S1 and S3 pupils must design and build a simple wave-powered generator and construct a model wave machine to work in conjunction with the generator.
Pupils in S4 to S6 have to design a wave-powered generator, a wave-making machine to work in conjunction with the generator and a model to demonstrate the transmission of the power to produce light.
Nine schools will be chosen as finalists from all of the Scottish entries. They will be invited for an all-expenses paid trip to try out their designs at Strathclyde University’s test tank on June 7 and attend the SCDI’s Celebration of Engineering and Science Showcase event at Glasgow’s Science Centre on June 8.
Details of how to enter are at www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk
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