The Engineers Ireland STEPS programme has today announced the winners of the inaugural STEPS Engineering Your Future @ Home challenge.
Launched in May 2020, the new at-home programme was established in response to COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the STEPS Engineering Your Future Transition Year programme taking place in third level institutions and organisations throughout Ireland.
The initiative comprised of a three-part series of videos and challenges developed in collaboration with Mark Langtry, Head of Science and Sport at Explorium, to inspire Transition Year students to explore the limitless opportunities a career in engineering offers.
The series attracted over 2,300 views and over 130 Transition Year students submitted videos, photographs and drawings to the three challenges which ranged from designing the ultimate alarm clock to creating a novel communication system and an at home gym.
Congratulations to each student shortlisted and the overall winners in each category. Find out more about each of the winning projects with Mark Langtry or read more below.
Challenge 1- Electrical Engineering- Home Communications Challenge
Overall Winner: Daniel O’Leary
Daniel submitted a well thought out project entry where he used gas pressure to send messages over 2m.
Runner Up: Robert Carleton
Robert submitted a video on his ‘Optical Fencepostinator Communication Device’ which showed fences being reshaped to send messages.
Highly Commended: Neri Carcasci and Saoirse O’Brien
Neri created a complex computer programme which can deliver encrypted messages and chat with people from anywhere.
Saoirse’s submitted a fun video entry which showed two participants playing clips of songs for each other to create a conversation.
Challenge 2- Sports Engineering- Home Gym Challenge
Overall Winner: Conor Paul
Conor created a full gym and included a video and diagram of a weights machine he created.
Runner Up: Kate Burke
Kate built and designed a 2.5kg weight by using a pole from an old wooden brush and two big milk cartons filled with water to create the weight.
Highly Commended: Sean Dunford
Sean designed and created his own very professional looking weights machine.
Challenge 3- Product Design- Alarm Clock Challenge
Overall Winner: Tom Maye
Using a 3D printer, Tom created an expertly designed alarm clock which will only shut off when his window blind is pulled up.
Runner Up: Daniel Kennedy
Daniel created a teasmade for the 21st century and put an incredible amount of time into creating a great design.
Highly Commended: Cian Farrell and Dylen Hegarty
Cian’s innovative design included setting a plug timer to have his hoover go off at 8am – simple, yet very effective!
Dylen created an alarm clock that incorporated a car alarm from his grandad’s old car.
To find out more about the STEPS Engineering Your Future 2020/2021 programme, visit: https://www.engineersireland.ie/Schools/Get-involved/Engineering-Your-Future/How-to-apply
The STEPS Engineering Your Future Programme is coordinated by Engineers Ireland's STEPS programme - funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills and industry leaders ARUP, ESB, Intel and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). For more information, visit: https://www.engineersireland.ie/schools