Guide to the Library and its services: Library news

 

Pioneering computer scientist Alan Kay said that the surest way to predict the future was to invent it. This is precisely what Scholars who entered the prestigious TeenTech Awards set out to do. Seven teams submitted innovative proposals for making the world a better place to live in. All teams achieved Bronze or Silver in the qualifying round, with one team —  rEcycle and Co — progressing through to the final round. Isabella, Tiffany and Finn (who is now at school in England) will take their idea for a smart, solar-powered recycling bin — which one judge described as "one of the most comprehensive, well thought out ideas I have come across" — to the Institution for Engineering and Technology in London on 27 June. In addition, Blanchelande has been recognised as a Silver TeenTech Centre of Innovation & Creativity for enabling "the innovators of tomorrow."

 

The seven teams who submitted entries are:

• JMI Lipstick in the Ethical Innovation category — Isaac, Jodi and Maria in Year 7 — for their homemade eco-friendly and organic lipstick range that is as good for the planet as it is for you (and your pocket)! Judged "a fantastic project with a strong ethical focus and a great mix of creativity, science and care for the environment."
• projector4 in the Education category — Gethin in Year 8 and Owen in Year 9 — for their 4-way projector for educational and entertainment use. Judged "a fantastic project!"
• rEcycle and Co in the Environment and Energy category — Isabella, Tiffany and Finn in Year 9 — for their solar-powered and AI-enabled public litter bin that sorts, compacts and distributes litter for minimal waste and maximal recycling. Judged "one of the most comprehensive, well thought out ideas I have come across."
• RentaTools in the Environment and Energy category — Alexander in Year 7 — for his app/website that facilitates hiring/renting of tools instead of buying them. Judged "an innovative and environmentally conscious solution to a common problem in the Guernsey community."
• Shoplicity in the Food and Retail category — Gabriel and Jude in Year 7 — for their pathfinding app/website that facilitates shopping, especially for people who are anxious or experiencing difficulty with their memory. Judged "a brilliant idea that has been very well researched."
• Sight-to-Sound in the Wearable Technology category — Edouard and Theo in Year 7 — for their glasses that convert sound to sight in the form of words projected onto the lenses as an aid for those who are hard of hearing, or simply for some karaoke fun. Judged "a creative and thoughtful project that shows real heart and bold thinking."
• WeTube in the Education category — Reuben in Year 7 — for his video guide to making videos to help aspiring YouTubers create their own YouTube channel. Judged a "a fantastic project that tackles a real problem with creativity and determination."

TeenTech is "an award winning charity, founded in 2008 by Maggie Philbin and Chris Dodson to help students see the wide range of career possibilities within science, technology and engineering."

The TeenTech Awards were established in 2012/3 to help students "see how they might apply science and technology to real world problems [and encourage them] to develop their own ideas for making life better, simpler, safer or more fun."