PHS Engineering

The 2005-2006 success for PHS Young Engineers left us with a big problem FOLLOW THAT. Thanks Thomas (Balfour Prize) and all the Roboting, Rocket Scientist, Charity Champions, Adv. H A’s, Best Team in Britain for making it almost impossible.

Dec. 14th. 2006 proved we could. We decided to accept the challenge from the SCDI and Selex Edinburgh to show just what we could do in one day, given the chance. Lab. 3 was the obvious venue and Mr. Brown, our Rector and Dr. Taylor, our science head, said, Yes, and we could even have our new leader, Mr. Nisbet and d refreshments thrown in. We decided we could go for it as long as Mr. Hynd, the physics technician, was available too.

We decided we could

o Construct a Rampaging Robot
o Re-light our Monster Christmas Card ready for this year’s Charity Day.
o Teach new members to solder properly and test out our prototype Gizmo Boards.
o Dream up another Amazing Astronomical Event for PHS.
o Display S6 projects currently competing for the Selex award.
o Present info. on our current range of projects including the new range of guitar amplifiers.
o Use the OHP and PHS Young Engineer web. site to show a bit of our history!!
o Use new club camera to log. the event and make report for web. Site.
o ENJOY OURSELVES!!

We invited some of our Club Contacts to join us and give a hand if they felt like it.
From Edinburgh University we had Dr. Andrew Firth and two PhD. Students who helped with soldering training, gizmos and S6 projects.

Drs. John Hiley and Jim Herd came from Heriot Watt and they helped with everything. They both want a Rampaging Robot!! Roz. McLouchlin, the School Laison Officer also came to collect ‘our’ robot cup to be re-engraved before the next competition.

Morag Hastie, PHS past pupil, came again from the ROE. She has now submitted her PhD. and takes up her first Post. Doc. In Texas. Real Rocket science!! She promises to keep in touch. Morag thinks our idea for the next Astronomical event is a cracker.

Selex Edinburgh sent Dr. Roger Hill and two new graduate engineers who hope to work with a new outreach scheme for schools. They want to use ‘our’ Gizmo boards so were keen to watch them being built by the new members. They also helped discuss project ideas with S6 and Alix Wilcox, who is taking her gap year at Selex before starting her Physics degree at Durham Uni. Next session. Alix’s supervisor at Selex, John Innes also came along to check out the S6 projects. John is responsible for the S6 initiative and will be the chief decision maker when it comes to nominating the winner of the Selex award.
We also had Colin Swan, our ex pupil who is now a member of the magic circle and hopes to be part of that Astronomical event, Christine Clink, another past pupil came along to see what it really feels like back in the science dept. She hopes to apply for a post. Grad. Dip. Ed. Gus Fisher, from the Steiner School came to see what goes on in a completely different kind of school and Mrs. Hill obviously brought a chocolate cake.

During the day we were visited by many members of staff and even Mr. Brown stayed over an hour. Could he secretly want to join?

It was a great day and we all wish to say thanks for making it possible. The good news is that it is not the end of the story ….

We did build a Rampaging Robot and it’s almost ready for the next event. After the one day visit to the Assembly Rooms for the Science Festival last year Rampaging Robots have been invited to be there EVERY day this year. Then over 90 Robots are currently being built across Scotland, so we’ll find it ever harder to win at our own game!!

Plans are also afoot to hold a Gizmo workshop at Edinb. Uni. In our favourite Satway Lab. We’ll be used as prototypers before the boards are made in quantity for the other schools.

The PHS art Dept. want more light up boards for the next phase of masks.

The ROE have included us in the Dark Sky Project and thanked PHS for their great contribution to the trials of FT and Astronomical Events. Prof. John Brown has re-affirmed his interest in our Astronomical Event.

John Innes has been very impressed by the attitude of the S6 pupils and hopes the Selex initiative will be repeated.

The SCDI continue their support and hope PHS Showcase 2007 will be the best yet.

We have some ideas already ……………………..

Thanks for visiting our site.

Watch this space for more.

PHS Young Engineers Update 2007