TWO teams from Wilmslow High School have been named semi-finalists in the Longitude Explorer Prize.
The prize, from Nesta Challenges and funded by the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, calls on young people aged 11 to 16 to invent tech solutions to some of the big challenges of our time, such as climate change, pollution and an ageing population.
The winning team will be awarded £25,000 for their school or youth group in July.
A total of 60 semi-finalist teams will develop their ideas over the next term to compete for one of 30 places in the final round.
One of the Wilmslow High teams, Innovators Inc, designed ‘Loneliness Buddy’, a talking pod which will help lonely people who are unable to get out of their home and stop them from feeling lonely.
They will be able to tell the pod their interests and it will talk about them. If two people who are using the pod have the same interests, it will be able to link them so that they can talk to each other too.
The second Wilmslow High semi-finalist is ‘Robotic Beach Rover’ by the Hazmat Men.
Using a combination of a solar powered beach rover and a monitoring drone it will be able to detect, collect and sort rubbish on beaches.
Robotic Beach Rover
Science Minister Chris Skidmore said: “I have been hugely impressed by the quality and creativity showcased by the semi-finalists of the Longitude Explorer Prize.
“The 11 to 16-year-olds involved in the competition have the potential to become the future scientists and engineers that will grow our reputation as a world leader in science and innovation.
“From a robot that cleans up our beaches and AI therapy dogs to help autistic children navigate social situations, this competition is helping knock down barriers while teaching our future generation that anything is possible.”
Owing to the high volume and quality of entrants, Nesta Challenges is creating 10 new places in the Longitude Explorer Prize final, and is inviting schools and youth groups to enter innovative ideas before the closing deadline of February 14.
Entries must feature inventive and innovative solutions that use AI, machine learning or technology.
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This will also allow entrants who were unsuccessful the first time around to refine their ideas and apply again.
For more details about the semi-finalists and to find out how to enter a team ahead of February 14 visit longitudeexplorer.challenges.org or search: Longitude Explorer.
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