Posted to News on 6th Aug 2010, 11:31
Bosch Technology Horizons Award winners named
The winners of the Bosch Technology Horizons Award 2010 have been announced at a prestigious event held at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. The Bosch Technology Horizons Award is an easy-to-enter essay competition that is open to all young people aged 14 to 24. Now in its fifth year, the competition aims to raise the profile of engineering and technology among young people.
Entrants were asked to write a short essay in answer to the following question: Are engineering and technology essential for future development?
Speaking about this year's competition, President of Bosch in the UK, Peter Fouquet, said: "The Bosch Technology Horizons Award inspires young people to think about the influence they could have on engineering and technology and we, in turn, are also inspired by the content of the essays that are produced. Engineering and Technology play such a vital role in our world today, not least for the part they can play in protecting our environment and the people who live in it."
Winning the top prize of 700 for the 14-18 year-old age group, Caitlin Willis, from Chelmer Valley High School in Essex, said: "It feels amazing to have won and I would definitely recommend the competition to other students. I never really realised before the big part that engineering plays in our everyday lives. But now after researching it, it has made me think about how different life would be without it and it has also made me think about a job in engineering."
Taking the first place prize of 1000 for the 19-24 year-old age group, Thomas Dean, from Loughborough University, said: "The competition has made me seriously consider the role engineering has to play in the future, and I believe that the role is a vital one for the human race. The basic technology required to sustain the population and the planet for the future already exists today. It is the challenge for engineers to ensure that it is accessible to all and applied efficiently, providing the greatest benefit to civilisation."
The runner-up from the 14 to 18 year category received 300 and five 'highly commended' finalists were awarded 150 each. The runner-up of the second age group of 19 to 24 year-olds received 500 and the five highly commended finalists in that category received 250.
Bosch Technology Horizons Awards are supported by The Royal Academy of Engineering, an institution that brings together eminent engineers from all disciplines to promote excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering. Speaking about the 2010 competition Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Engineering Philip Greenish said: "This is an inspiring and thought-provoking competition, and we were delighted to recognise the two winners at our recent Awards evening at Guildhall, where the contribution to engineering made by young people is particularly emphasised."
Hosting the award presentation was President of Young Engineers and former TV presenter, Kate Bellingham. Also present were Andrew Castle, Vice President for Bosch in the UK, and members of the judging panel, including last year's winner of the 19-24 year-old age group, Gavin Harper, Chief Executive of Engineers without Borders, Andrew Lamb, Editor of SecEd, Peter Henshaw, Communications Manager for the Royal Academy of Engineering, Claire McLoughlin, and Education Journalist, Steve McCormack.
The question for the 2010 competition will be announced shortly. More information can be found at www.bosch.co.uk/technologyhorizons/.
