Youngsters seek robot solutions

School pupils take part in last year's contest

Schools from Suffolk swept the board in a science and technology competition held over the weekend in Cambridge.

Students from schools in Cambs, Suffolk and Norfolk focused on the effects of humans and climate change on oceans.

The best robot performance went to TSM Robot Team made up of primary school children from Trimley St Martin in Suffolk who go into the next round.

The best team award went to Farlingaye School from Woodbridge and two other awards to Amberfield School, Ipswich.

The youngsters took their inspiration to build robotic solutions to problems faced in the seas from the theme Ocean Odyssey.

Management consultants Transitions Cambridge ran the tournament for the third time and it was held at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge.

The youngsters are taking in a lot of science used in the National Curriculum in an environment of fun Shai Vyakarnam

Transitions director Shai Vyakarnam said: "As something where we get an opportunity to give something back to the community at the end of a long hard year of work, this tournament gives us enormous pleasure.

"Through the tournament we can see young people gain so much confidence with technical skills, an appreciation of science and technology and work as team members for an eight-week period.

"Oceans are under attack from pollution with fish, birds and other animals at risk.

"This project asks youngsters to research the topic of the oceans and apply scientific thinking from a wide range of disciplines such as science, technology, ecology and geography.

"The youngsters are taking in a lot of science used in the National Curriculum in an environment of fun."

The best team award went to FHS Floaters from Farlingaye School in Woodbridge, best technical award to Aqua Ambers from Amberfield School near Ipswich and top display and understanding of the project to Crazy Cod - a second team from Amberfield.

TSM Robot Team also took the overall prize and will progress to the next round of the national tournament, to beheld at Dunton near Loughborough early in the new year.

The judges described the performance and capability of this primary school team who took on beat teams with children much older and experienced than themselves as "awesome".