Davidson Inventors in Cambridge

On Thursday 8 October, Year 12 students Ben, Bryan, Conrad, Fergus and Mahin visited Kings College Cambridge and the Cambridge Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology; an experience which they were awarded last academic year when they won the Davidson Inventors Challenge for their invention of a water purification system using a venturi, aimed at sterlising and purifying water for drinking. This prestigious annual STEM competition, run by the University of Cambridge for Year 11 and 12 students in the UK had more than 350 schools competing this year.  The Challenge focuses on developing innovative solutions to global challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The group described their day as "an unforgettable and unique experience that really helped us to sample the (somewhat magical!) life that Cambridge has to offer" on a day that "was very well run, and we really enjoyed the array of activities, from the visit to King's to the Makerspace skills session."  

Pate's Head of Biology Miss Annia Rhodes accompanied the students,
"Our students had a tour of King's College Cambridge, including a tour with a Fellow onto the  King's Chapel Roof, which you are only allowed up with a fellow, so it was a very rare and exciting opportunity. They then had a talk with an admissions tutor; gaining advice/insight about competitive applications; followed by an interview for the Cambridge website and finally a session in the MakersSpace learning about CAD, and then the chance to design their water purification device on the computer and have it 3D printed." 

The group are so grateful to the University of Cambridge, extending their thanks for an amazing tour of King's College chapel and roof with Prof Moggridge. ("This was a truly unique experience that we will never forget, and we were fascinated by his explanations of the history of Cambridge observed from the rooftop"), the valuable advice from Dr Yunus ("on admissions to Cambridge. His presentation really helped to demystify a process that can sometimes seem quite confusing and daunting at first glance! The practice interview questions also helped us to understand what to expect and what to prepare for.") as well as Josh from the Makerspace (passing on thanks for "his explanation of how we would make our invention for the mass market, and his support in helping us learn CAD. Some team members noted later how they were at first worried that CAD would be difficult to learn, but after the session, they said they really enjoyed it, and it wasn’t as hard as they were expecting.") and Robin, who helped them "feel comfortable and prepared for the video interview. We didn’t really know what to expect but it ended up feeling very relaxed and I’m sure it will end up amazing."

Reflecting on the day, Mahin said,
"Going to Cambridge was an absolutely incredible experience - not only were we incredibly lucky to get to tour King’s Chapel (including the truly exceptional roof), but we were given the privilege of speaking to such esteemed academics and understanding just how versatile and multifaceted the scientific worlds of biotechnology and chemical engineering are! It was truly an honour to listen to these professors talk about various scientific disciplines and pathways, and it was nothing short of inspirational to be allowed to experiment in their design labs under their supportive guidance. The whole journey of DIC with our team has been nothing short of eclectic, and I’m so glad that, aside from our amazing victory, I got the opportunity to collaborate alongside my team (and with the ceaseless support of the wonderful Miss Rhodes) and create a true innovation that we were all proud of!"

Fergus said,
"Having the opportunity to visit Cambridge and speak to some of the professors was an absolutely amazing experience that I’m sure none of us will forget. Touring King’s College was unforgettable - not only did we experience a sample of the historic and beautiful university, but we were allowed special access to the chapel’s rafters and roof (and the amazing view that came with it!). We were also very lucky to receive some advice on admissions to Cambridge, which really helped to demystify the process. After a delicious lunch in the student cafe on campus, we finished the day in the Makerspace, where we learned how our invention would be mass produced for market, and how it would be designed in CAD. The day opened our eyes to the amazing and unique university experience offered by Cambridge, and I think we are all definitely even more interested in applying!On behalf of the team, I would like to thank the wonderful Miss Rhodes for her unwavering support throughout the competition and for taking us on two long trips all the way to Cambridge and back! The Davidson Inventor's Challenge is an incredible competition for anyone interested in any branch of STEM, and I would encourage those in Y11 and Y12 who are interested to apply!"