The UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology welcomed school pupils onto the University of Birmingham campus last Wednesday (16 November) for a special awards ceremony to celebrate their success in creating videos to help more people understand how quantum technology works and how it is transforming the world around us.
Pupils and their families and teachers were welcomed by Professor Kai Bongs, Director of the UK National Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology before being given experiencing practical demonstrations of quantum technology by specialists from the University of Birmingham.
After delivering a talk on quantum technology, Professor Bongs announced the competition winners and runners-up. Pupils received a prize certificate as well as a cash prize to reward their efforts.
Prizes were awarded for videos created by groups of pupils as well as pupils who had produced their videos independently. Awards were made by age group. A special award was also given to the video which had gained the most ‘views’ on YouTube.
The invited pupils had all taken part in the Hub’s recent Quantum Technology School Video Competition and had been shortlisted by a distinguished panel of quantum technology experts from academia and industry. The same panel selected the final award winners.
Launched in spring 2017, the Quantum Technology School Competition invited pupils from 8 to 18 were invited to produce short three-minute videos explaining how quantum technology works and how the technology is transforming everything from how we map the ground under our feet to how we measure brain activity and boost broadband speeds.
The competition was made possible thanks to the financial support of Teledyne e2v; RSK; and alumni sponsors Mr John Nevill Hornibrook OBE VRD and Malcolm and Jo Rolfe.
Reflecting on the school competition, Professor Bongs said: “It was fantastic to see so many school pupils and their teachers had responded to the challenge we had set and produced a variety of imaginative and informative videos on different aspects of quantum technology and its applications.
“Quantum science is expected to lead to another technology revolution. A new era for sensor technology where we can accurately detect the makeup of the ground beneath our feet, detect brain activity with non-invasive magnetic sensors and improve broadband speed with highly accurate clocks. We hope our school video competition will inspire the next generation to pursue a career in quantum science.”
In light of the success of the school video competition, the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology are considering running another school competition in 2018. Keep up-to-date with future announcements by following the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology on Twitter @Sensors_QTHub and by visiting the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology website.
Award-winning videos
King Alfred School – Classroom prize of £700 for their video about atomic clocks (age 15-18) and
Members of King Alfred School team: Herbie; Kai; Luca; Alicia; Clara; Sydney; Kitty; Oscar; Lina; Timur; and Conrad
Kirsty, Isla and Paige, Craigmount High School – Independent winner prize of £125 and most watched prize of £700 for their video about gravity sensors (age 12-14)
Lily , St Leonard’s – Independent winner prize of £125 for their video about atomic clocks (age 15-18)
Wahab, Craigmount High School – Independent runner up prize of £50 for their video about gravity sensors (age 12-14)
Elizaveta, Oxford High School – Independent winner prize of £125 for their video about atomic clocks (age 15-18)
Leon,Caashim and Ben, Bluecoat Academy – Independent highly commended prize of £25 for their video about atomic clocks (age 15-18)
