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Southern Water Aqua Innovation Final 2013

 July 11 2013 | Kent & Medway | Views: 2175

Aqua Innovation is Southern Water’s secondary schools initiative aimed at engaging Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14) students in the issues of water efficiency, conservation, and sustainability. The final on Thursday 11th July was a chance for the final five schools to pitch their ideas, share their learning and celebrate their hard work.

The judges for the final included Trewin Restorick- CEO of Global Action Plan; Jacob Tompkins from Waterwise; Anna Bradley from Southern Water Customer Challenge Group and Phil Tapping – Water Distribution Leakage Manager for Southern Water’s Operations Team who listened to each pitch before prosing some difficult questions for the students to answer.

Chatham Grammar School for Boys was the first group to take the stage with a fantastic Prezi presentation which wowed the judges. The year 7 team designed the Drip Drop Water Butt which, based on a water lily, is a free standing water butt and lid that opens when it rains. Powered by solar panels the Drip Drop Water Butt can open and close manually or via the rain sensor. The product would be made of a biodegradable potato starch which households could compost. Inspired by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy the students came up with an eco-friendly scheme for replacing each composted product free of charge. The team spoke with confidence and knowledge throughout the presentation and they tackled some difficult questions with ease during the judging panels Q & A.

Thamesview School offered the penultimate presentation which really impressed the judges. Their product was a pay-as-you-go water meter which could be topped up online, using an app or at the post office using a key. The homeowner would be able to set an alarm in the form of a text message or email sent at a user definable amount. During their presentation they showed a clear consideration for who the product would be most suitable for. The judges commented that it was ‘great on so many levels’ and the team got a special mention for tackling such an economically important issue.

Congratulations to both of the Kent teams who made it to the final. The overall winners were Thornden School from Hampshire who won themselves an eco-holiday. Kent & Medway STEM would like to thank the STEM Ambassadors who supported the Kent and Medway schools as well as the school teachers and the Southern Water and Global Action Plan organisers.

Registration for Aqua Innovation 2013-14 has now closed but to be added to the mailing list to find out about more opportunities like this, please email: kentandmedwaystem@canterbury.ac.uk


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