Amazon invited children from across Cambridgeshire to play their part in the future of science and technology. Students were asked to draw or build their own interpretation of a model delivery drone using materials found in their everyday lives, with winning entries chosen for their creativity, application of science and the benefit the drone would bring to society.
The winning drone designs were chosen from nearly 500 applicants – whittled down by a panel of prestigious judges. Judges included Mayor of Cambridge, Councillor Jeremy Benstead; Councillor Lewis Herbert, Leader of the Cambridge City Council; Jonathan Nicholson, Assistant Director of Corporate Communications, UK Civil Aviation Authority; and David Hardcastle, Amazon UK.
Monkfield Park Primary School in Cambourne topped the leader-board, taking first, second and third places for the ‘building’ category. Year Two pupil Lauren was awarded the top spot for her ‘Busy Bee’ drone, which she hopes will deliver toys to children who don’t have any. Second place went to Olli, age six, for his ‘Fin 100’ drone, which will deliver his favourite foods; egg on toast and pizza, and third place to Nithyan, age nine, for his ‘First Aid’ delivery drone.
The successful young engineers were awarded their prizes in a special ceremony during a school assembly. Winning students took home gift baskets of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) prizes, and won up to £3,500 for their school. First place winners won the chance to tour Amazon Prime Air’s Development Centre in Cambridge, where their creations were on display for a month.
Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire County Council, Gillian Beasley, a competition judge, said: “The standard of the entries and creativity shown is testament to the imagination of primary school students in the county. It was a fantastic competition to judge, and the selected winning entries showed a real engagement with using science to create. I hope this will act as inspiration for students in the future.”
A student from Ditton Lodge Primary School won in the ‘drawing’ category, with Year Four student Kyla producing the winning first place entry for her ‘V.E.T (Veterinary Emergency Transport)’ drone. Thomas and Tayla, both age eight, from Earith Primary School in Huntingdon, came in second and third, respectively, for their ‘Stunting Scouts’ and ‘Colourful Copy’ drones.
HIGHLIGHTSThe ‘Design a Drone’ competition invited primary school students to draw or build their own interpretation of a model delivery drone using materials found in their everyday lives. Entries were judged for creativity, application of science and the benefit the drone would bring to society.
Year Two pupil Lauren was awarded the top spot for her ‘Busy Bee’ drone, which she hopes will deliver toys to children who don’t have any.
