Wednesday 2 July 2014 Eleven lower sixth students from The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) secured science success at the Big Bang Fair Yorkshire and Humber, winning the top two team prizes in the CREST Gold Project competition. The British Science Association’s CREST programme is an award scheme that recognises achievement in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) project work. The Big Bang Fair provides a showcase for the students’ projects as well as a host of activities to inform and enthuse young people about STEM subjects and related careers. The team of Tapan Ranjan, Lewis Small, Eddie West, Hadassah Litvin and Clemmie Johnson were winners of the Big Bang Fair Yorkshire and Humber CREST Gold Project award, with their design for a collapsible oil barrel. They now progress to the national final next March, during the Big Bang Fair 2015 at the NEC in Birmingham, where they will have to display a full-size model of their barrel. Physics teacher Laurence Wilkinson mentored the winning team. He said: “The team conducted a classic engineering project which included experimental, research and design work. I am delighted that their presentation at the Big Bang Fair was so well received. “That they have been awarded the regional award for best CREST Gold Project is testament to their hard work and to the quality of their final design. I am confident that they will perform equally well when they represent Yorkshire and Humber at the national Big Bang Fair.” Runners up for the CREST Gold Project award were the team of Joe Hunter, Luke Chand, Daniel Drazen, Adam Bush, Liam Procter and Luke Mahoney. Mentored by GSAL head of physics Tom Rogerson, they have planned a scale model of the solar system designed to fit on the school grounds at Alwoodley Gates, and are applying for funding in the hope of seeing their vision become reality at GSAL. General Sixth Form News
