A green day out for Tees Valley pupils

Secondary pupils from across the Tees Valley explore the importance of the environment and climate change here at Teesside University.

The 24 Year seven (aged 11 to 12 pupils) create their own mini-wind turbines and carry out experiments using a model hydrogen powered car.

The visit is part of the Meteor Programme STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Integrated Education Strategy. This is funded by One North East, aimed at helping promote awareness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with young people in the local area.

During the day, the pupils will be working with Dr Chris Ennis and Russell Mills, Project Officers for the University’s Clean Environment Management Centre (CLEMANCE) unit, on:

>Pico Wind Turbine – pupils will make from component parts a small vertical axis wind turbine, using over 30m of copper wire and specialist magnets, as well as recycled/reused materials. The best quality wind turbine will produce the most power – when turned with hot air - the students’ breath. A well built windmill will have a similar output to a battery.

>Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car – experiments will be carried out, using a reversible fuel cell, investigating the relationship between solar energy and photovoltaic cells. Using this knowledge, students will be tasked with generating the most hydrogen. The winning team will be the one that makes their car travel the furthest distance, all in a controlled period of time – not necessarily generating the most hydrogen.

Russell Mills said: 'The aim for the day is for the pupils to learn about renewable energy technologies in a fun and challenging way. They have to work to time constraints; this encourages effective team working, and brings out real life skills.'

Pupils attending are from Branksome School, Darlington, Dyke House School, Hartlepool, High Tunstall, Hartlepool, Ormesby School, Middlesbrough, St Peters Catholic College of Maths & Computing, Middlesbrough, St Michaels R C School, Billingham.

Teesside University first launched Meteor in 1999 as an initiative to inspire primary children from six Middlesbrough schools to think about the benefits of further and higher education. Since then Meteor has expanded massively and now includes young people in secondary schools throughout Teesside.

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