Hampshire Solar Design Challenge 2009

The Solar Design Challenge will be held at the  INTECH Science Centre and Planetarium on 9th July 2009.

We are currently in the process of inviting schools to take part.  Watch this space to find out who will compete in this year's event!

Local areas taking part in 2009 will be Test Valley, Fareham, Gosport, Eastleigh and the Isle of Wight.

Solar Design Challenge 2008 Winners

Deputy Mayor Pam Holden-Brown presenting

the Runner Up award to students of Scantabout Primary

for their solar-powered model "The Reusable Renewable"

2008's Solar Design Challenge gave Primary and Junior Schools in Eastleigh the chance to compete for the award of Best Design against schools from Test Valley, Basingstoke and the Isle of Wight.  The working models were designed by a team of students at each school from a kit provided free of charge by the Council.  Each model was powered by a solar cell and used a range of recycled materials.

The children who participated learned more about science and technology, and particularly about the free energy available from the sun and other renewable sources.

The event culminated in an Exhibition and Presentation of Awards at the

exciting Intech Science Centre in Winchester on 17th July 2008.

All participants were also given the opportunity to see a show - "Black Holes" -  in the Planetarium, which was newly opened on 19th March 2008 by the well loved fantasy author, Terry Pratchett.  When not presenting their creations to the Judges, the students had the whole of Intech and all its exhibits to explore.

Schools participating were

                       Scantabout Primary                "Reusable Renewble"                     Eastleigh winner

                       Botley Primary                        "The Botley Banger"                       Close second

Judges for Best Design were Deputy Mayor, Councillor Pam Holden-Brown and Councillor Anne Winstanley, and helping out to do the "scrutineering" and take the children through a break-time activity were staff from the Environment Centre in Southampton.