Science success at Dollar
Five Form IV Dollar Academy pupils have reached the finals of a prestigious national competition after winning a place in the finals of the 2012 National Science & Engineering Competition. They will now go head-to-head with students from across the country in an attempt to claim one of the UK’s most well-known science and engineering honours for young people.
Katherine Gillespie, Sarah Hawkins and Maddie Jamieson excelled in the regional heats of the competition with a study into the psychology of exams. Ciara O’Connell and Bethan Scott also impressed the judges with their investigation in to the most effective throat lozenge. The girls' entries will be presented to over 30,000 people at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, the country’s single biggest celebration of science and engineering for young people, held at The NEC, Birmingham from 15th to 17th March 2012.
Sir Roland Jackson, Chief Executive of the British Science Association which runs the National Science & Engineering Competition, commented: “The National Science & Engineering Competition aims to inspire the talent of the future by making science, engineering, technology and maths more appealing for young people. These entries shows just how exciting and extraordinary science and engineering can really be. We’re thrilled that the Dollar Academy students have got through as regional finalists; their projects really caught our imagination and we wish them all the best for the national finals at The Big Bang Fair in Birmingham.”
Commenting on the achievement, Mr Charlie Ainge, Head of Biology at Dollar Academy, said:
"There's a real passion for science here at Dollar and the entire department strives to provide our pupils with interesting and creative ways to explore the practical applications of the subjects they are learning. Entries were to the National Science Competition this year were really excellent and we were delighted to have five of our pupils in the final. The girls set themselves a difficult task and dedicated a lot of time and effort into their investigations. The outcome was a project at a level which could rival work produced by pupils much further up the school. Well done to our scientists of the future."