"Thurrock's Top Junior Scientists battle it out at the 2020 Technology Tournament
Nine teams from five schools in the area were entered at this year’s Technology Tournament organised by the Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock and South Essex College.
The overall winners were Grays Convent High School (top photo) with their amusingly named hovercraft, "The Flying Nun". There were also certificates for: the straightest running hovercraft, Treetops School (middle photo); the fastest hovercraft, Hathaway Academy (bottom photo), for the best Teamwork shown, Gable Hall School and for the best designed hovercraft, again Grays Convent High School.
Just under 40 children battled it out from 12.00 until 4.00 in the afternoon, they being set various tasks such as, answering technical questions on the development of the hovercraft testing their STEM skills, to drawing a poster advertising their craft, to actually producing a working model hovercraft from the materials provided.
To their credit, every team generated a working hovercraft which was tested with great enthusiasm over two courses laid out in the restored Old Ticket Hall. The judging was rigorous and very close and the standard of workmanship and craft skills shown was extremely high from all the teams.
The certificates and prizes were presented by the Rotary Clubs’ President, Elaine Stephens and Vice President, Adrian Alsop and also the Chief Judge, Simon Lofting from the SEC.
Yet again grateful thanks to the Port of Tilbury for the loan of the London Cruise Terminal, a fantastic venue for the event.
With such enthusiasm for and skills shown, it bodes well for the future of science in our area. "
