OSWESTRY TECHNOLOGY TOURNAMENT

Schools are invited to submit teams of four students to undertake a challenge involving the practical application of basic physics principles.  Challenges are offered at foundation, intermediate and advanced level.  Teams are continually assessed throughout the day and trophies are awarded to the best performing team at each level.

There are three age levels for team members which are foundation, intermediate and advanced.  the degree of complexity and difficulty of the task is increased at each age level.  All costs are borne by Borderland Rotary Club and there is no entry cost to school teams.  Local business sponsorship is an active part of the tournament.

The teams have to solve a task which they know nothing about until the day of the event.  They are required to design, develop, build and then test their solution to the task from the materials supplied.  These can be anything such as a strip of wood, dowel, paper clips, tape, wire, cardboard, glue or elastic bands.

Each team is also required to compile a portfolio of theor design and development ideas.

The day culminates in the tresting session when teams can see the results of competinmg designs and solutions.  Some of these are always truly amazing.

Stewards are on hand throughout the day to encourage and guide the student teams, keeping them focussed.  Each team's final solution is judged by a group of rotarians and industrialists with backgrounds in engineering, technology, enterprise and education.