the-BA : 2006 BA CREST Science Fair

When Lydia Arnold heads off to university in autumn, she plans to study medicine, and without doubt she has been given a hand along the way thanks to her award-winning project – a robotic hand. The laser-controlled hand, which was able to mimic the movements of the operator’s own hand, won her one of the top prizes at the national BA CREST Science Fair, held at the Royal Society in London on 27 February.

‘Before I started my project, I hadn’t done much electronics, so I had to learn the skills very quickly,’ says Lydia, 17. ‘I’m particularly interested in medicine and am hoping to go to medical school. I felt it would be useful to be able to understand how the technology being used in medicine and rehabilitation works. The robotic hand I’ve been working on could form the basis of technology for use in remote operations or prosthetic limbs.’

Thanks to the success of her project and her ability to impress the judges, Lydia was awarded the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) Prize at the BA CREST Science Fair. She will be the UK’s science entry in the ISEF competition to be held in Indianapolis in May.

Lydia was one of over a hundred students taking part in the BA CREST Science Fair this year. The fair showcases the best research projects by young scientists aged 12-19 across the UK. Other winners at this year’s fair include Eric Topham, 18, from the Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester, who studied the Maculinea caterpillar, which recruits ants to carry it to their nest and nurture it until it develops into the butterfly stage. The research featured on the recent BBC programme Life in the Undergrowth.

‘The projects on display at this year’s science fair represent the pinnacle of the 23,000 BA CREST Awards presented over the year,’ says Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the BA, which organises the fair. ‘Many of the contestants taking part this year will be the scientists, social scientists and engineers of the future. The projects demonstrated here are inspirational, showing the quality of work in science and engineering that young people can achieve when given some creative freedom and support. It is crucial that we recognise and nurture their talents and encourage them to pursue careers making the best use of the skills on display.’

The complete list of winners is as follows:

The Best CREST Science Project at Bronze Level - First Prize
Emmet Kiberd, Andrew Linnie – John Scottus Secondary School, Dublin, Ireland
“Improving Computer speeds using Vedic maths”
The Best CREST Science Project at Bronze Level - Second Prize
Helen Taylor - Beech House School, Rochdale
“Battery Investigation”
The Best CREST Science Project at Silver Level - First Prize
Scott Weerasuriya - Sackville school, East Grinstead
“Soap/Handwash efficiency”
The Best CREST Science Project at Silver Level - Second Prize
Matthew Sweeney, Thomas Smith – Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Bebington
“A Waste of Paste: Do toothpastes actually work?”
The Best CREST Science Project at Gold Level - First Prize
Negin Damali Amiri – Mount Carmel Technology College
Nadir Chowdhury – Central Foundation Boys’ School
“Essential Oils – The Modern Day Ancient Remedy”
The Best CREST Science Project at Gold Level - Second Prize
Katherine Donnelly - Loreto College, Northern Ireland
“Effects of pupils of stereotype threat relating to sex and 11+ grading”
The Best CREST Technology Project at Bronze Level - First Prize
Alex Carty, Alex Cook, Alex Waters - St Anthony's Girls School, Sunderland
“The AAA Weather Station - a device to assist primary school children in their learning”
The Best CREST Technology Project at Bronze Level - Second Prize
Amelia Bennett, Becky Clayton, Chrissie Lacey-Hatton - Eckington School, Sheffield
“GoGreen – Constructing a solar powered buggy”
The Best CREST Technology Project at Silver Level - First Prize
Angharad Porteous - The King Edward VI School, Morpeth, Northumberland
“Table Tennis Ball Launcher – ‘The Perfect Practise Partner’”
The Best CREST Technology Project at Silver Level - Second Prize
Aaron Hazlehurst - Fearnhill School, Letchworth, Hertfordshire
“Bath alarm to help the community”
The Best CREST Technology Project at Gold Level - First Prize
Daniel Hutchinson, Rosanne Brocklebank, Samuel Lee, Thomas Stable - Ulverston Victoria High School, Cumbria
“Digital Acoustic Velocimeter”
The Best CREST Technology Project at Gold Level - Second Prize
James Lorimer, Christopher Starkie, Matthew Jones, Michael Gibson - King Edward VII Community College, Leicester
“Lock Stock and Two Smoking Doses: Automating the Activation of an Inhaler”
AstraZeneca Young Innovators Award Prize
Robert Morgan Blizzard - Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton
“A study of the pharmacokinetics of novel anticancer drugs”

Colin Dyer - Hamilton Grammar School, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
“Purification of the Cd-81 protein, receptor to the Hepatitis C virus”

Eric Topham - Thomas Hardye School, Dorchester, Dorset
“Communication in ants, and between ants and myrmecophiles”
International Science and Engineering Fair Prize
Lydia Arnold - Audenshaw School, Glossop, Derbyshire
“Design and construct a laser photonics robotic hand control”
EU Contest for Young Scientists Prize
Leon Chen - Corfe Hills School, Broadstone, Dorset
“Visualising the Future”

Alexander Saville – City of London School for Boys
“Analysis of the water-soluble constituents of the herbal product guacatonga”

David Bendell – Bexhill College, East Sussex
“A Study into the Possibility of Bacterial Cross Contamination in Food and Drink Distribution”
QinetiQ Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar Prize
Henry Collier – Bolton School
“Shaken Baby Syndrome: Can Fractures Haemorrhage when induced post-mortem?”
London International Science Youth Forum Prize
Kathryn Ferris – Glenlola Collegiate School, Co Down
“Determination of the Advanced Lipoxidation End-Products in Diabetic Serum”

Katherine Donnelly - Loreto College, Northern Ireland
“Effects of pupils of stereotype threat relating to sex and 11+ grading”

The BA would like to thank AstraZeneca, Research Councils UK, Intel and QinetiQ for their sponsorship of the event and the Royal Society for its support with the event.

ENDS
For further information please contact:
Craig Brierley, Press Officer, the BA
Tel: 020 7019 4947
Email: craig.brierley@the-ba.net

Note for editors
1. The BA (British Association for the Advancement of Science) is the UK's nationwide, open membership organisation dedicated to connecting science with people, so that science and its applications become accessible to all. The BA aims to promote openness about science in society and to engage and inspire people directly with science and technology and their implications. Established in 1831, the BA organises major initiatives across the UK, including the annual BA Festival of Science, National Science Week, programmes of regional and local events, and an extensive programme for young people in schools and colleges.

2. Images of the winners are available from the BA Press Office.

	Home

	Press Office

	Press Releases

	2007 Press Releases

	2006 Press Releases

	2005 Press Releases

	2004 Press Releases