The Sustainable Transport Challenge 2024

For the 2023-2024 academic year schools were offered 2 participation options:

STC at School

For this option schools delivered the challenge themselves either in class or during a STEM Club. A downloadable student booklet was provided, as well as suggested resources to support student learning.

All schools had the option of attending the STC 2024 Celebration event hosted by the Climate Action Team at the University of Bath; where students could showcase their work at the Science Fair. Participating schools also took part in workshops with a sustainability focus lead by GKN Aerospace, Siemens, the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Institute of Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS).

  • GKN Workshop
  • ICE Workshop
  • Siemens Workshop
  • Science Fair
  • The ‘Mum-Mobile’
  • Hydrogen Electric Plane Design
  • From Stroud to Borneo

    • STC in a Day

    Hosted by the Widening Participation Team at the Penryn Campus of the University of Exeter; local schools were invited to participate in a one-off workshop day. Student teams were each given one section of a shared journey around Devon & Cornwall, students then participated in a design sprint activity with students working in teams to build a prototype model of their sustainable vehicle and route adaptations.

    Students also participated in 2 small supporting workshops; one focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals and another lead by Rachel Hayden (WSP & ICE) where students constructed a DaVinci bridge.

  • Success! A standing DaVinci bridge (KS3)
  • Testing their DaVinci bridge (KS2)
  • Beginning their builds (KS2)
  • Presenting their idea (KS3)
  • Presenting their idea (KS3)
  • Solar sail design (KS2)
  • A rocket from Exmoor to Exeter (via a quick detour to Mars!) (KS2)

    • Just to say thanks for a great challenge day at Bath Uni.  The kids had a great time and really enjoyed the whole experience. 

    Teacher, Downend School

    STEM Ambassadors

    STEM Ambassadors are volunteers from a variety of STEM backgrounds who give their time to supporting schools and young people in STEM engagement activities and careers events. STEM Ambassadors were a huge support to the delivery of STC 2024; they delivered workshops at the Bath and Penryn events, mentored students participating through their schools, they made short videos about sustainability in STEM careers and most importantly were a supportive and encouraging voice to students. The STEM team at Graphic Science are hugely thankful to all the STEM Ambassadors who gave their time to supporting this challenge!

    Another massive thank you to the STEM Ambassadors from the University of Bath, University of Exeter, GKN, Siemens, ICE, IAAPS and The Festival of Nature as well as Rachel Hayden (ICE/WSP) for their roles in coordinating and supporting the larger STC events.

    Really enjoyed working with the students and seeing how creatively they approached the challenge and wanted to become engineers.

    Rachel Hayden, STEM Ambassador

    Student Ideas

    The 2024 season includes some excellent ideas ranging from innovative concepts to wacky plans! There is no one right answer for the Sustainable Transport Challenge, the best part is seeing where their understanding and imagination can take them!

    KS3:

  • This team planned their route to include every Disneyland between the UK and Japan
  • This teams idea would plant trees along the way
  • The Swedish Meatball Car powered by biofuel
  • The environmentally friendly campervan design
  • From Sheffield to Stroud in this laser cut prototype
  • This seaworthy model is designed to collect litter from the ocean
  • This land vehicle has extendable wheels, a climate adaptation idea to cope with flooding
  • The Pacific Pioneers are travelling from the sinking city of Jakarta through the Pacific Garbage Patch

    • The students enjoyed the ICT design aspect greatly alongside the mapping of their journeys. It reinforced their learning about climate change and supported them in understanding the wider challenges of climate change solutions.

    Teacher, Devonport High School for Boys

    KS2:

  • Solar sails design
  • Amphibious Vehicle
  • Design with a scooper, to remove debris after storms and flooding
  • Solar powered car
  • Solar powered car
  • Rocket from Exmoor to Exeter, via Mars!

    • They enjoyed the logistical side – planning the routes and thinking about terrain and zones to avoid due to conflict as well as environmental factors.

    Teacher, Lyde Green Primary School