Young scientists of the future have braved the dragons’ den to be named Kent’s top boffins at the KM Bright Spark Awards.

Students from across the county were invited to submit collaborative projects using cross-curricular skills in maths, IT, science and engineering to investigate, innovate and invent.

The top eight initiatives were selected to compete at a dragons’ den style final at Discovery Park, Sandwich in a bid to win trophies, certificates and experience prizes.

Finalists were filmed in advance at school to present their science projects and each video was screened at the awards event before a team of pupils took to the stage.

The students were quizzed by a panel of six dragons including Tom Cole from Integrated Technologies; Paul Gannaway from Betteridge and Milsom; Dr Joe Watkins and Dr Jennifer Tullett from the science faculty of the University of Kent; Bal Sandher of Hectic Lifestyles; and Kimberley Anderson of Discovery Park.

Dr Tullett said: “We’ve seen some really cool things from these children. They’ve done exciting projects and really thought about what they want to do with it to take it forward. They’ve worked together so well.”

Mr Sandher added: “The awards are a fantastic way of inspiring a new generation of scientists by presenting the subject in a novel and interactive way.”

Five winning teams received experience prizes donated by the dragons as well as framed certificates for their schools to display.

The Sand Storm Simulation project from Dane Court Grammar School, Broadstairs, developed an enclosure where equipment could be dust tested to ensure it would continue to work in hostile desert conditions. The Canterbury Academy team analysed data on the biodiversity of their school's playing fields.

Dartford Grammar produced two winning apps: the Estudo App, designed to help students prepare for exams, and the Mathie App which uses a game approach to improve pupils’ maths skills.

The Lucid Project team from Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury, invented a cosmic ray detector which is currently orbiting the Earth on a satellite.

The overall champions were the Aesop Drone team from The Skinners School, Tunbridge Wells, who built a drone and used 3D mapping software to measure pollution levels. Nathan Davey and Lukas Ratcliffe, both 16, were presented with the champions’ trophy and a cash prize of £500.

Simon Dolby of the KM Charity Team, which organised the awards, said: “These projects are the cream of the crop and our judges have been staggered by pupils’ confidence and brilliant ideas.

“It’s a delight to see students getting excited about science, maths and engineering - areas that are critical to the success of the economy.”

The KM Bright Spark Awards were also supported by Kent and Medway STEM and Christ Church University. Click here to view photographs of the event.

To become a dragon at next year’s awards contact Simon Dolby on 07989 164 752 or at sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk.