Page 2 - The Malvernian - July 2024

THE MALVERNIAN
Hands on Science Day
On Friday 17 May, we visited QinetiQ for Hands on Science Day. It was an exciting event/competition where lots of pupils from schools in the area completed different STEM related activities. We all rotated around different stations, each with their own challenges. One of the challenges involved the Qube, a large computer-like box that generated different computer science related challenges like Caesar Ciphers and encrypted messages for pupils to solve. It also dispensed (with the help of the QinetiQ staff) a considerable amount of candy. During our second challenge, we were introduced to a very strange device called SPO-NX. We later learned that this was used in crowded events to detect illegal, concealed items and improve public safety. Other notable activities included: Spheros, Virtual Reality, Lego Mindstorms and Pi-rates (using code to rescue an astronaut from death in space). By 2pm, everyone seemed to have been high on sugar (and slightly dizzy from the Virtual Reality headsets). Malvern College came a very close second across the day’s challenges, and the whole event was enjoyable and productive.The highlight being problem solving using teamwork, technology and of course, heated debate. We are all very thankful to Ms. Shales for organising the trip and QinetiQ for hosting us.
Raphael Duthie, FY (No.5)
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THE MALVERNIAN