Inverness-shire school makes final of Junior Saltire Awards

An Inverness-shire school is just one step away from claiming the coveted 2014 Junior Saltire Award after seeing off competition from a record number of entries.

Daviot Primary School is one of nine schools shortlisted after being asked to create, build and test a simple Hydrokinetic Generator which would be suitable for Scottish Waters.

The finalists will test their models at the new FloWave facility at Edinburgh University on Wednesday 4 June 2014. The winners will be announced the following day at the Celebration of Engineering and Science at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, with school prizes of up to £750 and medals up for grabs.

Finalists for the competition, managed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in partnership with Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), are:

• S4 to S6 – Braeview Academy from Dundee, George Watson’s College from Edinburgh and Douglas Academy from East Dunbartonshire

• S1 to S3 – Sanday Community School from Orkney, Holy Rood High School from Edinburgh and St Augustine’s RC High School from Edinburgh

• P5 to P7 – Daviot Primary School, Olnafirth Primary School from Shetland, and Shieldaig Primary School from Wester Ross

Rob Orr, Strategic Relations Manager, Energy at SDS said: “The Junior Saltire Award helps to develop an awareness of marine renewables and encourages our young people to explore careers and investigate the skills that are required to work in this industry.”

Ross Martin, CEO SCDI, added: “This initiative is a way in which to celebrate the positive role that young people can play in developing a future Scotland through their interest in engineering and science.”

Tom Davey of FloWave, said: “We are delighted to invite the finalists to test their devices at the new FloWave test tank which offers a world-leading marine device test facility to allow testing in any combination of current and wave environments.”

ENDS