TeenTech conquest
The next generation of innovators met with TeenTech patron HRH The Duke of York
at Buckingham Palace recently to share their award-winning inventions
More than 1,500 students
from schools across the UK
and Europe were involved in
the latest TeenTech Awards,
designed to make life “better, simpler,
safer or more fun”, using the power of
science and technology.
The students’ ideas included drones to
detect and absorb pollutants, an app that
calculates a safe way home from school
and a suitcase that provides everything
for the stressed commuter, with room
for clothes, a workspace – and even
somewhere to sit.
Some 269 schools registered to take
part in the awards and one school had
extra reasons to celebrate taking part, as
Sumair Mohammed from Evelyn Grace
Academy in Brixton was named ‘Teacher of
the Year’. His school has participated for
the past two years, during which time he
has seen the number of students wanting
to be involved soar from eight to eighty.
“Many of our students do not realise life
beyond Brixton, but, with the support of
TeenTech, they have been given access
to mentors from some of the largest
technology companies in the world,” he
says. “TeenTech has had an incredibly
positive impact on our students, allowing
them to recognise a future for themselves
in careers they had not thought of.”
Since starting the TeenTech Awards at
Evelyn Grace Academy, there has been a
noticeable increase in students at Year 9
opting for Computer Science as their rstchoice
subject for GCSEs. “Before we did
the programme, there were 12 students
in our GCSE Computer Science class; we
now have the majority of our current Year 9
cohort selecting this subject,” he adds.
And the best in uence that TeenTech
has on pupils? “This is on our more
reserved students, who are often forgotten
about in the classroom. They’ve realised
they can achieve more than they thought
they were capable of and it’s been a
pleasure to be able to see them grow
so much, all due to this initiative.”
The winners can be really proud of their
achievements, but what is particularly
exciting, he points out, is how the impact
goes deep beyond them, right into a
school itself. “Support from the TeenTech
Programme is enabling teenagers to
develop incredible ideas and projects, and
helping students understand their own
potential. I owe a massive thank you to
About the TeenTech Awards
The TeenTech Awards are an annual initiative
run by TeenTech that challenges young
people aged 11 to 19 to tackle key societal
and environmental issues, using the power
of science, technology and engineering.
Each year, nalists present their ideas live
to a panel of judges made up of celebrities,
journalists and eminent academics. The
overall winners are then invited to present
their ideas to HRH The Duke of York. Award
sponsors include Accenture, Atkins, CILIP,
Cross Country Trains, GSK, FDM Group, JVC
Kenwood, Lloyds Banking Group, Rolls-
Royce and Symantec. In addition, more than
35 universities and 70 companies mentor
students for the awards.
Device for diabetics
to identify sugars
in foods (winner
of the Research &
Information Literacy
category).
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