SOLAR OLYMPIAD 2021: EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN UNUSUAL TIMES

SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

On 6 May, the Agoria Solar Team organised the sixteenth edition of the Solar Olympics. This is an annual event in which secondary school students from all over Flanders are challenged to build a mini solar car or an original gadget that runs on solar energy. The 2021 edition presented itself as a Solar Olympiad and went entirely online for the first time. Ministers Ben Weyts and Benjamin Dalle encouraged the 150 participants.

Both excellencies did not hide their admiration for the initiative and the results. “This is STEM made visible, tangible and palpable,” said Flemish education minister Ben Weyts. “Here you can see that STEM is damned enjoyable. The projects radiate a love for science and technology”. Flemish Minister for Brussels, Youth and Nature Benjamin Dalle confirmed: “I think it is incredibly clever how the participating young people were able to bring their challenging projects to a successful conclusion in this unusual year”.

Finalists

In September 2020, 50 teams registered for the solar competition. Out of their concepts, 28 were chosen from 16 schools for the finals. These teams were each assigned a coach from the Agoria Solar Team. Each team also received a solar panel with which to build either a mini solar car or a creative gadget. Whoever opted for the gadget had to be able to convince the competition jury that the invention was not only original, but also sustainable and would eventually find its way to the market. This resulted in highly original but also very topical realisations, such as an electric alternative for convex traffic mirrors and a smart measuring system for the ventilation of classrooms. The teams that built a mini solar car had to compete against each other in a small but very competitive speed race.

Digital platform

The final of the competition is always a real happening at the Leuven campus or at Technopolis in Mechelen. “Due to the ongoing problems with the corona, we were forced to look for an online alternative,” says Ruben Holsbeekx, event manager of the Agoria Solar Team. “Together with Colruyt Group Technics, Group T Leuven Campus and Technopolis, we developed a digital platform for the final day with live streaming for the supporters.”

During the live show on 6 May, the teams presented their creations to the jury and the public, who could vote for the public prize. More than 2,000 votes were cast during the final. Stephane Berghmans, CEO of Technopolis, Bart Bosmans of Colruyt Group Technics and Ruben

Holsbeekx looked on from the studio in Mechelen and awarded eight prizes. “There were some really tough projects this year,” says Ruben. “Some of them were in no way inferior to the Engineering Experiences in the bachelor programme. But the other teams also manifested themselves as talented engineers-to-be.”

Yves Persoons

Still to be viewed at www.solar-olympiade.technopolis-events/nl/home