Primary schools from across West Lothian took part in an event to encourage the scientists and engineers of the future.
Over 70 pupils from 12 schools recently took part in West Lothian College’s STEM Olympics.
The Olympics were held simultaneously at Linlithgow and St Kentigern’s Academies and saw the schools compete in teams of four across a range of STEM related challenges.
The event was organised by the college with funding from the Tam Dalyell legacy fund to encourage young people in to STEM related subjects from a young age.
Pupils from Our Lady’s Primary School, St Anthony’s Primary School, St Columba’s Primary School, St John the Baptist Primary School, St Mary’s Bathgate Primary School, St Thomas’ Primary School and Eastertoun Primary Schools attended St Kentigern’s to form two streams.
Whilst pupils from Linlithgow Primary, Low Port Primary, Springfield Primary, Torphichen Primary, Winchburgh Primary, and St Joseph’s Linlithgow attended Linlithgow Academy forming a third stream.
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The pupils at St Kentigern’s carried out challenges including making bath bombs, applying food science to make ice cream, programming robots and building their own bridges. At Linlithgow, pupils were challenged to build a tower, create electrical circuits and build batteries from fruit.
Each challenge was scored by a team of judges, with the three top scoring teams for each stream being presented with a trophy, and a place in the final which will be held at West Lothian College in the coming months.
Representatives from Sky, Express Micro Science and Entrotec attended as judges and presented the pupils with their awards.
The winning teams were from Our Lady’s Primary School, St Columba’s Primary School, St Anthony’s Primary School, Eastertoun Primary School (two groups), St Thomas’ Primary School, Springfield Primary School (two groups) and Linlithgow Primary School.
Colin Miller, head of external service at West Lothian College said: “Thank you to all the schools that took part in the STEM Olympics, to the employers that took time out their schedules to come along and support and to St Kentigern’s and Linlithgow Academies for hosting the first heats.
"It is great to see so many young people so engaged with STEM activities and we are already looking forward to hosting the final here at the college in the coming months.”
