chambernews
Pupils show they are simply the best Once again West Lothian’s schools have shone through, impressing judges and guests at the finals of the Mitsubishi Electric PumpIt Up Challenge with their innovative and impressive presentations. Now in its third year the challenge to secondary school pupils is to find an alternative use for a heat pump. This year’s winner Armadale Academy flew to victory with their Heat at Height idea to use warm air from aircraft engines for internal heat and de-icing the wings. Followed closely by joint runners-up Inveralmond Community High School and James Young High School. The finals ceremony was held on 13th June at Howden Park Centre, with over 200 guests, including Mr Matsunaga, Consul General of Japan in Edinburgh and Ms Ishigami, Consul Deputy Head of Mission of Japan in Edinburgh. We were also delighted to have attending Mr Sumida, President, Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning Systems Europe along with Hannah Bardell MP, Angela Constance MSP, Fiona Hyslop MSP, Provost Tom Kerr and other representatives of the local council, business and education. Everyone commented, with pride, on the excellent quality of the presentations and
the enthusiasm of the finalists from all eleven West Lothian secondary schools. Consul General, Mr Matsunaga was one of the judges and impressed with the standard of ideas which included a heated kennel, a stretcher that could be cooled down or heated up, a heating system in a maternity unit operated by a hospital morgue and a heater and cooler for a greenhouse or reptile house. He said: “Scotland has a wonderful history of inventors, the first Ultrasound was developed here, this nation has John Logie Baird, James
Watt, so many inventions and I am sure that at this final we have seen the future Steve Jobs as their ideas have been so impressive.” It is hoped the project will assist budding engineers with developing various skills that could be beneficial to future career choices, especially in engineering, manufacturing and technology. Linda Scott, CEO for West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, said: “This competition is all about encouraging Scotland’s younger generation to think outside the box and come up with clever and innovative ideas that give them a greater understanding of technology and engineering. “Ultimately, we are looking to help our younger generations learn and develop new skills and competitions such as these are great for this because they tap into a number of different skill sets such as creativity and teamwork” Rodney Ayre, Senior Department Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Air conditioning Systems Europe Ltd, said: Again this year the Pump It Up Schools challenge has shown the great pool of talent that is being developed within the West Lothian Schools, the ideas generated and the presentations shown help to emphasise the need for more collaboration between Schools and Businesses to support the development of the Academies and our future employees. Events such as these provide a platform where schools can get first-hand experience of manufacturing, renewables and in benefit to Mitsubishi Electric, the air source heat pump.
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businessconnect
summer2016