From designing cheap inserts to improve the function of face masks to writing algorithms to compare package holidays, 10 remarkable projects have been shortlisted to compete for a major national title as part of this year’s finals of The Big Bang Competition.
Big thinkers
With over 200 science and engineering projects entered into The Competition this year, we have been extremely impressed by the ingenuity and willingness to solve real-world projects shown by all the young people who participated!
All the prizes up for grabs as part of The Big Bang Competition are:
- The coveted title of GSK UK Young Engineer and GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year
- Junior, intermediate and senior winners in the science stream, including 3 runners-up for each category
- Junior, intermediate and senior winners in the engineering stream, including 3 runners-up for each category
- 10 special prizes sponsored by The Energy Institute, Network Rail, Royal Air Force, Stantec and Just Eat, among others
Top prize contenders
The incredible young people vying for a cash prize of £2,000 and the prestigious title of GSK UK Young Engineer of the Year 2021 are:
- Serena Jacob, from Bedford, who created an app that will help people recognise their risk for developing Type 2 diabetes
- Bhuvan Belur, from London, who created a sensory device for people who have balance issues, such as vertigo or Parkinson’s, that they can wear around their body and prevent them from falling
- Benjamin Herbert-Owen, from Essex, who developed a prototype of a fridge that was a bike accessory to keep cold refreshments cool on long journeys
- Ludovica Knight, from Eastbourne, who created a model wind turbine that collects and stores energy with an aim of helping villagers in Chad, Africa draw water from a well
- Kaede Sugano, from Rugby, who created her own algorithm to compare different package holidays for a new website
The shortlist for the GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year 2021 is:
- Saashi Ghaie, from Coleraine, Northern Ireland, designed a face mask insert that is inexpensive to produce, more comfortable to wear for long periods and just as effective as a surgical mask
- Kell Johnston, from Hexham in Northumberland, investigated whether water from willow trees could be used to help grow plants and be an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic products
- James Barber, from Cambridge, conducted an experiment to see which one of his family’s mouthwashes was the best at killing microbes
- Jess Kerbiriou, a home-school student from Hackney in London, investigated the effects of a high-protein diet on her father’s diabetes
- Alex Lockyer, from Essex, created a brain training computer software programme to manage the symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
Winners revealed at Big Bang Digital
All finalists will find out if they have won prizes at 3pm at Big Bang Digital on Wednesday 23 June.
Schools can register to attend the awards ceremony via the registration link.
Follow the #BigBangCompetition hastag on social media for live updates!