Pupils take the lead at innovation showcase
UKSPA News
Pupils take the lead at innovation showcase
Begbroke Science Park welcomed 44 Year 9 and 10 pupils from five schools in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire to their annual Innovation Showcase recently , asking them to try their hand at turning cutting edge science into commercial business ideas
The six teams took recent scientific discoveries and developed them into new commercial products , presenting their designs and business plans in a Dragons ’ Den-style competition for a special Innovation Showcase trophy .
The trophy was won by girls from Wycombe Abbey School who pitched a novel ‘ feelable ’ touch screen tablet , which allows blind people to read braille and feel objects on a tablet screen without having to rely on audio descriptions .
Other ideas in the Innovation Showcase , now in its 6th year , included origami robot toys , novel sound insulating headphones , mood manipulating software for people with depression and a dolphin-inspired radar device to help detect explosive devices .
The pupils also had the opportunity to visit two of BSP ’ s leading research laboratories and see first-hand how studying science can lead to many exciting careers .
Graham Hillsdon showed how the University of Oxford ’ s Impact Laboratory
Girls from Wycombe Abbey School pitched their novel ‘ feelable ’ touch screen tablet to the judges at Begbroke Science Park , winning the 2016 BSP Innovation Showcase Award
is working to make aeroplanes safer , whilst in the Advanced Processing Laboratory pupils were shown various machines that help scientists scale up research to prove their theories at an industrial scale , led by Robin Vincent from the Processing of Advanced Materials research group .
Judging this year ’ s showcase Caroline Livingstone , Manager of BSP , commented : “ This event is great fun . It ’ s inspiring to see the pupils involved in the kind of activities that form the heart of BSP . This year the competition was hard fought and the winners are well deserved .”
Green light for Harlow MedTech Innovation Centre
A multi-million pound deal has been struck for a major new Medical Technology ( MedTech ) Innovation Centre at Harlow Enterprise Zone .
The Centre , due to open autumn 2017 , will further increase the presence of the life sciences sector in the region and help to build Harlow ’ s profile along the London-Stansted- Cambridge Corridor .
The £ 5 million Anglia Ruskin project is supported by a £ 2.5 million grant from Essex County Council and has the backing of Harlow District Council .
It follows the recent announcement that Public Health England will be relocating its facilities to Harlow , with
The deal was struck after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Essex County Council and Anglia Ruskin University
2,500 jobs transferring to the town by 2024 .
Anglia Ruskin University wants to establish two further medical technology science parks at Chelmsford and Southend . Together with Harlow , these campuses could create one of the world ’ s largest health innovation hubs , attracting international and national companies around the innovative medical technology sector .
Vinci has been appointed by Harlow District Council as its preferred development partner to build the new 25 acre Harlow Science Park , which will incorporate the MedTech campus .
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