The North Wales area has been involved with the EESW Big Bang event for many years in providing
assessors for the Projects Awards as well as sponsoring a prize for ‘The Best Use of Mechanical
Engineering Principles’, namely the Ian Binning Award in memory of one of our members who
contributed a lot towards Institution STEM activities in the Region.
This year, due to Covid restrictions, the event was significantly different with no ‘face to face’ activities
possible at Venue Cymru. A great deal of work had been done by the students in the previous year,
normally leading up to the project presentations and awards in March. Recognising this and to reward the
students, EESW decided to carry out a virtual assessment of the projects with a video award ceremony for
2020.
The Region agreed to sponsor and support the event as usual. Two additional changes were agreed:
· Normally the Projects are assessed across North Wales and South Wales at separate distinct
events. This year EESW asked for the projects to be considered across Wales which significantly
increased the number of projects to be assessed.
· The sponsorship by the Region usually includes a cash sum for the Team plus a separate award
for the school (recently this has been a gyroscope). For 2020 the cash sum was increased as it
would not be possible to make a physical presentation of a prize for the school.
Assessments
EESW carried out the first run of assessing the projects using experienced assessors from previous events.
This provided us with a short list of nominations to assess locally. Four of our Regional members who
have previously assessed the IMechE award then judged and selected the winning team.
The team that won the Ian Binning award for 2020 was Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay (Team 1) for
work carried out with Warwick Chemicals in the selection of a pumping system for offloading of tankers.
It was a close run with Connahs Quay High school who worked with Airbus on a tool to assist in the
removal of aircraft wing fasteners. Noted that Connahs Quay won a separate award for the ‘Most
Effective Presentation of the Solution’.
Awards
The award ceremony was virtual with each sponsor providing a short video that was streamed to the
schools. The following link provides access to the full awards ceremony:
https://www.stemcymru.org.uk/home/activities/eesw-project-sixth-form/
Future events
EESW have already kicked off the 2020/21 Projects through virtual meetings with the schools. The nature
of next years event is clearly uncertain but we would look to continue our involvement and sponsorship,
Here is the complete listing of awards, sponsors and winning teams for 2019/20:
Award Sponsor Winning Team
Best Application of Engineering and
Technology IET Connah’s Quay High School, Ysgol Friars Team 2
Best Overall Written Report WJEC St Joseph’s RC High Sch. Newport, Cardiff 6th Form College Team 2
Most Innovative Application of an
Existing Technology Safran Seats Alun School Team 2
Best Use of Mechanical Engineering
Principles (Ian Binning Award) IMechE - Merseyside & North Wales Region Ysgol Bryn Elian Team 1
Best Chemical/ Process Engineering
Design IChemE Coleg Meirion Dwyfor 6th Form Hub
Best Project for sustainability/
environmental protection The Worshipful Livery Company of Wales Bishop Gore School
Most Innovative Solution to the
Project Set Welsh Govt – Innovation Team Ysgol Y Preseli
Project with the Most Commercial
Potential TRJ Coleg Cambria Deeside Sixth
Best Application of Science Welsh Govt – Education Team Alun School Team 1
Best Energy Appreciation Vale Bishop of Llandaff CIW School
Best Appreciation of Safety Issues IMechE – South Wales Region Hawarden High School
Best Working Model/ Prototype SWIEET Llanishen High School Team 2
Best Overall Team Performance General Dynamics Queen Elizabeth High School
Most Effective Presentation of the
Chosen Solution Industry Wales Connah’s Quay High School
Gareth Cemlyn Jones
December 14th 2020