Road to Success - Hot Rod Wins Young Science + Engineering Competition

Published on isbi School News dated Thursday 24th of March 2016

Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge, is delighted to announce that three students have been named as the UK Young Engineer(s) of the Year 2016 in the National Science Engineer Competition. Rogan McGilp, Ethan Dunbar-Baker and Stuart Chau were presented with their prize at the Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineering Fair at the NEC. The team built a full size hot rod designed to be accessible for those with disabilities. The creative inspiration for the build is Rogan’s brother David, who has Down’s Syndrome and is wheelchair bound. The car was showcased at the Big Bang Fair in March. The team built the car in just three months after lessons and in between revising for exams. Headmaster Paul Kilbride said ‘This is an outstanding achievement for the boys who were able to showcase all of their hard work at the exhibition.’ Over 200 finalists from across the country were selected to show their ideas at the Big Bang Fair. Ten were shortlisted to pitch Dragon’s Den-style to a panel of high profile judges, including astronaut Dr Helen Sharman and scientist and TV presenter Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. The National Science Engineering Competition, organised by the British Science Association, is an annual contest open to pupils aged between 11-18, and gives participants the chance to compete for top prizes and international experiences worth over £50,000. Rogan aged 16 from Herefordshire is a boarder at OSH and spent his work experience at Morgan Motor Company as well as his brother’s school. He hopes to join Morgan as an apprentice when he leaves school and then move to the USA to run his own Hot Rod and Custom car business, which he has already started to set up. Fellow team mates Ethan Dunbar-Baker is aged 14 and lives in Stourbridge and 17 year old Stuart Chau is a full boarder from Hong Kong. Follow the progress of stemprojectosh on @stemprojectosh