Page 38 - Gi_April2021

igem news

EVENTS

THE LIONS RETURN

THE JUDGES (PICTURED AT A PREVIOUS SHOWCASE EVENT)

By IGEM London Southern & Eastern Section committee member Competition 2020 national final.
David Goodall Following the presentation, John
enlisted the help of Harriet’s mum
HAVING PREVIOUSLY endured Engineering and Network Strategy Rebecca to present the youngster
snowstorms in 2014, Storm Doris in and Chair of the London, Southern with the London Showcase’s Young
2017 and the Beast from the East 2018, & Eastern Section, opened the Presenter of the Year Award.
the London Showcase Event, now in proceedings before SGN Chief Following this, the stage was set for
its 12th year, was unshaken by the Executive Officer John Morea each presenter to give their five-minute
Covid-19 pandemic. introduced a special presentation from presentations.
More than 100 delegates joined 12-year-old Harriet Blessing. The first of the previous contenders
virtually to ensure the event’s continued Harriet is a Year 8 student at Royds to return to the Lions’ Lair was
success. This year, to celebrate 10 years School, in Oulton, who, together with Wez Little, Commercial Director at
of the Lions’ Lair, the Section brought her Solutions for the Planet teammate, ControlPoint. He presented Bluebox,
back previous winners so one could be came up with an idea for ‘Eco Air’ – an an innovation that eliminates leaks on
crowned the ‘Champion of Champions’. eco-friendly car powered by air. The polyethylene networks, providing an
The judging panel consisted of Chris team entered the concept into Solutions Artificial Intelligence safety net.
Bielby, Chair of Gas Industry Safety for the Planet’s Big Ideas Competition Next up was Simon Macdonald,
Group (GISG), Chris Clarke, Energy in March 2020. When the schools Business Development Director for
Strategy Director at Wales & West closed, the Eco Air project continued Kobus Services, who presented the
Utilities, James Harrison, Director of despite lockdown, first succeeding Kobus Pipe Puller, a device designed
the London Network at Cadent, and in the regional final. When Harriet’s to minimise the risk of damaging
Paul Denniff, Network and Safety teammate left the school, she continued surrounding utilities during service
Director at SGN. to work on Eco Air alone, flying solo pipe replacement.
Andrew Musgrave, SGN’s Head of while presenting at the Big Ideas He was followed by Gary Dwyer, UK

38

11/03/2021 08:25
IGEMNews_Events.indd 1 11/03/2021 08:25
IGEMNews_Events.indd 1