A challenge to inspire students
The revolutionary Rotor Challenge for school students is on the road again. It makes its next appearance on 12 May at the EBP Get Inspired careers’ fair for students aged 11-16 at Solent University, Southampton.
The challenge, which was a big attraction at local EBP South careers’ fairs in 2019, was in storage during the pandemic. It had its first outing since then at the Get Inspired Test Valley event in March at the Army Air Museum, Middle Wallop.
The challenge was created especially for local students in the Solent region by a group of senior engineers called Hands On the Future™ (HOTF). They are campaigning to encourage students to apply for apprenticeships and find employment in engineering.
Peter Mucci, one of the founders of HOTF, said: “The March event at the Air Museum went very well. We are pleased to be returning to careers’ fairs with our Rotor Challenge. Fellow engineers and our academic friends in universities know that hands-on skills remain vital, working in the future in partnership with high tech machines and AI.”
Southampton based HOTF acquired a ‘retired’ helicopter tail rotor gearbox and rotor from the Army Flying Museum three years ago. They commissioned a set of identical looking precision made bolts for students to measure precisely, with only one of the set being the correct diameter to complete the fitting of a rotor blade. This challenge tests students’ hand-eye coordination, dexterity and concentration.
The Rotor Challenge stand at the Get Inspired event will have local STEM ambassadors to show students the ropes and talk about their own exciting and fulfilling jobs in engineering.
HOTF founder Mike O’Sullivan who has led the work in commissioning and finishing the new precision made components, said: “In some cases hands-on skills provide the only precise, efficient and cost effective method for design and production.”
Alan Tricklebank, the third founder of HOTF who lives in Shirley, added: “We are pleased to take part in May at Solent University, as they are among the partners in our campaign. At the Get Inspired event in March – and in 2019 at Beaulieu and Southampton Guildhall – students flocked to the HOTF stand to take part in the challenge guided by the groups STEM ambassadors.”
EBP South, the organisers of Get Inspired events, say: “We want to give 11 to 16 year-olds the opportunity to gain a real understanding of the broad range of exciting career paths that the diverse businesses in and around the area have to offer through the promotion of interactive activities.” Get Inspired for Portsmouth schools is on 7 June at Portsmouth Guildhall.
Get Inspired gives students the chance to experience different skills and to discover their latent talents, speak to employers about real jobs and get involved in quizzes and competitions to win fantastic prizes.
Get Inspired Southampton
Date: 12 May 2022. Time: 9am to 3pm. Venue: Solent University, The Spark Building, East Park Terrace, Southampton, SO14 0DA.
HOTF founders (left to right): Alan Tricklebank, Peter Mucci, and Mike O’Sullivan with the Rotor Challenge helicopter blade in the background