Team Hydra is the winner of the Ultimate Field Trip 2013 competition, the UK’s leading science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) talent discovery event.
The University of Strathclyde’s Team Hydra, comprising Eric Brown, Hugh McQueen and Theo Scott, impressed the BP judges and celebrity science enthusiast, Dara O Briain, with its innovative ideas on how to develop a mode of transport that reduces the cost of passenger travel in a selected country by 2030.
The innovation focused on a mode of car passenger transportation and the technical solution that was developed was praised by the judges for its practical and innovative approach.
Team Hydra’s concept is known as the Ultimate Hybrid Car (UHC) . . . a plug-in hybrid compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle. It can be refuelled at home using both domestic power and gas supplies, though anticipated energy price hikes could erode the low-cost claim.
Reacting to the win, Team Hydra’s Brown said: “It’s an amazing feeling to win. I’m really proud of our team’s achievement. It’s definitely a competition I would recommend to other students as it gives you a chance to really show what you’re capable of. It’s hard work but it’s worth it.”
Emma Judge, head of graduate resourcing UK at BP said: “The UFT competition continues to go from strength to strength. This year a record 1,221 students registered to take part in the UK. The eventual winners really deserve the great field trip that they will embark upon this summer.
“We launched the UFT globally this year, adding the US and Trinidad & Tobago to the competition. Watch this space for further international additions to next year’s competition.”
The members of Team Hydra will begin their two-week field trip with BP in June. They will team up with the winning teams from the UFT Trinidad & Tobago and US competitions, visiting BP’s onshore control room at Stavanger in Norway.
They are then scheduled to visit Sullom Voe oil terminal in Shetland and will wrap up the field trip by travelling to Sunbury, BP’s International Centre of Business & Technology in Surrey.
The team will also receive Amazon vouchers worth £1,000 and a guaranteed interview for a graduate or intern role at BP.
Students considering entering the next competition should visit www.bp.com/fieldtrip and join the Facebook group:
http://tinyurl.com/3pxsfbw
BP’s Ultimate Field Trip was launched in 2010 and is now in its fourth successive year. It will return in September with another exciting challenge.