A project submitted for the Bright Spark Awards competition has put Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar pupils on the map as up and coming young scientists – and there is still time for other schools to enter the contest.

The pupils used 2D and 3D modeling, motor circuits incorporating wires, motors, buttons and USBs, and haptic or touch-responsive design in their Mapping for the Blind project.

Participating student Kayleigh Tucker said: “We decided to take inspiration from my dad’s disability. We wanted to help him navigate new places that he’s never been before.”

Time is fast running out to submit entries for the Bright Spark Awards, as the deadline is noon this Friday, June 15.

The fun and practical awards have a top prize of £500 to be shared by the overall winning pupils, and provide a great opportunity to engage youngsters in science.

Shortlisted entrants will be invited to take part in a Dragon’s Den-style final event at Discovery Park in Sandwich in July.

In addition to the £500 top prize, there will be a number of experience awards for stand-out projects, and every finalist will walk away with something.

The awards aim to excite a passion for science subjects among pupils, with children encouraged to collaborate using cross-curricular skills in maths, IT, science and engineering to innovate and create.

They are accessible and easy to enter, with girls featuring prominently in stand-out projects in recent years. There are no age restrictions, so both primary and secondary schools can get involved, and no limit to the number of entries a school or even a group of students can submit.

Pupils are filmed explaining their projects, and videos of shortlisted submissions will be shown at the Discovery Park final event before the judges interview the finalists and choose the winners.

The awards’ judges are Megger, Global Associates, Pfizer, Discovery Park, Benenden Hospital Trust, BAE Systems, Astro Communications, and Golding Vision (part of Golding Homes).

To enter, or find out more about the Bright Spark Awards, click HERE or contact event organiser Maxine Tarquini at mtarquini@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 0844 264 0291.