Rotary Technology Tournament

In conjunction with our two Rotary sister clubs in Poole - Parkstone and Poole Bay - and under the banner of "Rotary in Poole" we stage the tournament in early March.  Over 100 students from eight or nine schools, girls as well as boys, compete in three age-groups.  They are organised in teams of four, each consisting of two pairs from different schools.

The teams are tasked to design and construct, from a standard kit of materials, a working model to a pre-set specification.  Each team is required to demonstrate the efficacy of its solution to a team of judges drawn from local engineering businesses and a prize is awarded to the winning team in each age-group.  Whilst the judges confer over their decisions the assembled students are treated to a stimulating talk by an invited speaker focused on the attractions of a career in science and engineering.

Our photo shows two judges (centre and right) assessing one of the finished models.

In recent years we have been fortunate in enjoying the hospitality of Parkstone Grammar School as the venue for the tournament for which we are very grateful.

We were lucky to squeeze the 2020 tournament in before the first Covid lockdown but had to cancel the 2021 event.  However we plan on returning to Parkstone Grammar in March 2022 and resuming normal service.