Ron Dearing UTC students have submitted their entries in a competition aimed at inspiring greener thinking and positive action to tackle climate change.
The Waterline Student Sustainability Challenge, run by Marketing Humber and sponsored by Equinor and SSE Thermal, encourages students across region aged 9 to 18 to make a positive impact on communities and the environment by coming up with climate change solutions.
Ron Dearing UTC has submitted three entries this year, following the competition themes of Arts and Creativity, People and Community and Technology and Innovation.
Year 11 student Emma Giblin, 16, used her artistic skills to design a mural highlighting flood risk and the impact of climate change and rising sea levels on Hull, showing the exact moment the tidal barrier breaks due to the sheer volume of water.
Year 12 student Oliver Moyes-Cockroft, 16, created an educational virtual reality (VR) walkthrough environment to demonstrate different types of renewable energy to primary school children using Autodesk Fusion computer software.
Meanwhile, fellow Year 12 students Ellis Stipetic and Kirby Spencer, both 17, created a small wind turbine from almost fully recycled components as part of their Humber Turbines project to help developing countries generate low cost power.
The competition is part of The Waterline campaign, which brings together Marketing Humber and the University of Hull with leading regional, national and international businesses to support the Humber’s transition to a zero carbon economy.
Glenn Jensen, Senior Assistant Principal and Head of Engineering at Ron Dearing UTC, said: “This is a fantastic competition which encourages students to put a great deal of thought into their entries.
“Our students have really showcased their talents this year and produced some excellent engaging content and design ideas. Their projects further highlight the impact of climate change on our region and the steps we can take to address it.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how the competition progresses and wish our students the very best of luck.”
This year’s entries come after Ron Dearing UTC sixth form students Catherine Crees and Jaden Taylor scooped the top prize in the competition last year for their carbon calculator project.
Their project helped students and staff offset their carbon footprints by walking or cycling to school, rather than using other modes of transport, which led to their peers and teachers changing their travel habits and the need for the school’s bike shed to be expanded.
Their winning idea secured them a trip to speak at a fringe event of the global United Nations (UN) climate change conference COP26, held in Glasgow.
Known as the “Sustainability Crew,” Catherine and Jaden were also awarded £2,000 towards their wider eco project to plant a tree for every Ron Dearing UTC student past, present and future in Hull city centre.
This year, six finalist teams will receive £250 and a VIP behind-the-scenes business experience. Overall winners will receive an additional £2,000 for their school or college eco project or Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts or Mathematics (STEAM) club, plus a trip to Norway including a VIP visit to an Equinor facility.
Judging for the competition is underway and Marketing Humber will announce the finalists shortly, with the winners announced at The Waterline Summit 2022 in October.
For more information about The Waterline campaign visit https://thewaterline.global/
Further information about The Waterline Student Sustainability Challenge is available via https://thewaterline.global/students/