Smart Students in the fast lane
Posted: 9th May 2012
The design of an energy generating door proved to be a winning idea for a team of students from The Milton Keynes Academy.
The team, named Eco Warriors, won the Best Innovative Project award in a competition linked to the design of the new massive Network Rail headquarters in Central Milton Keynes.
The team won vouchers worth £250 and was praised by former Mayor Cllr Debbie Brock who described the project as “absolutely fantastic.”
Another prize for the best conservation project was won by Eco Saints from St Paul’s Catholic School.
The Engineer Design Trust launched the 10-week project to get Year 8 and 9 secondary school students thinking about green issues surrounding the landmark new building being constructed near the railway station.
Eco Warriors Team Leader Siyabonga Ndebele said the students had really enjoyed working on the project. He added: “Our energy generating door is a very good and efficient way of storing energy. You can come in and spin this and while rotating it creates energy for lights and computers. There are so many people working for Network Rail so it will be spinning throughout the whole day.”
Mentors from Network Rail gave the team engineering support and helped the students build an electric motor.
Mr Cromwell, the Academy’s Head of Design and Technology, said: “This was an exciting project that really captured the imagination of our students. It was fantastic working alongside the mentors from Network Rail. We finished with a group of students who could easily be the next generation of engineers.”
Miss Gockelen, Deputy Director of Business and Enterprise, added: “Working alongside a large employer like Network Rail has shown the students in a real way the relevance of their curriculum for the 21st century.”
Other students taking part in the competition were from Denbigh School, St Paul’s Catholic School, Shenley Book End School and Redbourne Upper School and Community College in Ampthill.
