After a weekend of enthusiasm, imagination and hard work, four companies presented their designs to our panel of judges this morning. This year’s competition was particularly challenging. Participants had to address a multitude of difficulties, from the construction a moving settlement in Mercury’s hostile environment to the management of complex human health needs. The question rounds were gruelling; the judges pulled no punches, asking pointed questions and expecting cogent answers.
But each and every team rose to the challenge. Companies delivered excellent proposals and convincing presentations; one judge commented that this year’s designs were the best he had seen since he started participating in the UKSDC. This made judging significantly more difficult than previous years. But there can only be one winning design and after much deliberation, the judges settled on the proposal by one company: Dougeldyne-Flechtel.
Led by Tom Speed of Riddlesdown Collegiate, the team focussed on the Request for Proposal and advanced an innovative “ice-cream-cone” settlement structure that protected residents from harmful solar flares. Congratulations to Dougeldyne-Flechtel!
Congratulations also to special award winners! The Dick Edwards Award for Exceptional Leadership:
Phoebe Griffith, Moreton Hall
Krishna Kamesh, Cardiff Sixth Form College
Nakul Khanna, Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys School
Tom Speed, Riddlesdown
and the Rutherford Appleton Award for Exceptional Scientific Insight:
Millie Adams-Davies, Moreton Hall
Kamogelo Thutoetsile, Cardiff Sixth Form
Nicholas Putni, Haberdasher’s Aske’s Boys School
Dominic Tucker, Chatham Grammar School
Thank you to everyone who made the 2012 competition the best ever; teachers, volunteers, judges and of course, our participants! We could not have done it without you: in our eyes, you are all winners.
See you at next year’s competition!
