Design competition for Cheshire schools

The world’s leading recycler of aluminium, Novelis, is once again supporting the schools-based Alu D&T Challenge in 2016.

Schools in Cheshire are being invited to participate in this year’s Challenge which gives secondary school students aged between 11-14 years an exciting hands-on opportunity to explore the importance of sustainable design, similar to the real-life challenges faced by designers every day, and the role of aluminium as sustainable material.

It’s a lot of fun and there’s the chance to win great prizes for their school and cash incentives for students! (See below for more information).

Students participate by selecting and working to one of the three design briefs:

• A vehicle for the future — focusing on aluminium in transport
• A garden building — focusing on aluminium in construction
• A new packaging solution — focusing on aluminium in packaging

The challenges are flexible and easy to run. They can be delivered through lessons, or as part of an extracurricular activity such as a STEM Club.

Teachers are also well supported as the Alu D&T Challenge not only supports the design and technology curriculum for this age group, it provides free lesson plans and a range of interactive stimulus materials to explain the material properties and sustainability potential of aluminium.

Developed and funded by the UK aluminium industry and supported by leading manufacturers, the Alu D&T Challenge’s design briefs are based on real-life challenges faced by designers who need to meet consumer demands with products that don’t have a negative impact on the environment.

Organisers of the Alu D&T Challenge, Alupro, received more than 450 entries and awarded prizes to 30 individuals and teams in 2015.

Designs will be judged on how well they address the ‘6Rs’ of sustainability (below), as well as their creativity and the use of aluminium.

In each category prizes will be awarded to the best individual and team designs.

A panel of experts representing the aluminium industry and the building, packaging and automotive sectors will choose winners, who will receive a 3D printer for their school and a cash prize for the students.

Runners up will receive vouchers for themselves and the school and all shortlisted finalists will receive a 3D pen.

The competition is open for entries throughout the autumn term and winners will be announced in March 2017.

The 6Rs of sustainability are used by designers to reduce the environmental impact of products:

• Reduce -is it possible to reduce the amount of materials used? This will help to protect valuable resources
• Rethink – is there a better way to solve this problem that is less damaging to the environment?
• Refuse – this means not accepting things that are not the best option for the environment. For example, is the packaging really needed?
• Recycle – could recycled materials be used, or is the product made from materials that are easy to recycle?
• Reuse – could the product have another use? Could its parts be used in other products? Is this information clearly communicated on the product? This will extend its life.
• Repair – is the product easy to repair? This will extend its life.

Log onto www.learningaluminium.co.uk/aludtchallenge for entry details and to access further information. Follow @auldtchallenge on Twitter.