Pupils show mettle in bridge-building contest
Kincorth Academy team comes up with winning design for Petrofac event
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PUPILS from an Aberdeen school put their engineering skills to the test yesterday when they teamed up with a local company for a bridge-building competition.
Oil and gas company Petrofac hosted the annual contest for pupils at Kincorth Academy, which the firm has supported for 10 years through an education-industry strategy.
Yesterday’s event saw judges from Petrofac’s Bridge View office name the winning team as first-year pupils Hollie Smith, Jack Donaldson and Ricki Kilgour.
Their winning structure was commended for its design, presentation and build quality.
Each team was challenged to design and build foot-long wood bridges.
During yesterday’s judging the bridges were set up on a test stand and the structures were subjected to an increasing load test by adding weights to a bucket suspended from the bridge.
Head teacher of Kincorth Academy, Hugh Bryce, said: “The opportunity to work in close proximity with professional engineers at Petrofac is a great experience for the pupils as it provides an invaluable insight into the industry.
“The competition is very challenging and the pupils have shown tremendous enthusiasm and worked extremely hard.”
Petrofac’s vice-president for operations management, Steve Bullock, added: “This year we celebrate 10 years of our education-industry partnership with Kincorth Academy and this competition is one of the many initiatives we have supported.
“The partnership has not only benefited pupils and teachers at the school, but has given Petrofac staff the opportunity to provide significant support to the local community.”
