IDEERS A Hands-on Competition in Earthquake Engineering for Secondary Schools Bristol University’s Civil Engineering Department are running a national schools competition for 11-16 year olds to make models of earthquake resistant buildings. The models must be made using only MDF board, paper, glue and string and will be about half a metre high. Finalists will bring their models to the University to have them tested on the shaking-table, a large earthquake simulator. They must also produce a display showing how they developed their models and that they understand the effects of earthquakes and the need for earthquake resistant buildings. The first competition will start in September 2001 with its final taking place in April 2002. The competition is web-based. Details of the rules can be found on the IDEERS web-site at www.ideers.bris.ac.uk . The web-site also provides an educational resource that can be used for schools projects. It has sections on earthquakes, their effects and how buildings can be designed to resist them. Visitors to the web-site can now see some exciting animations, in the Resistant Buildings section, showing how building behave during earthquakes. This year, the project was piloted in five Bristol schools. Teachers from different disciplines have been attracted to the project because of its cross curricula nature. The subjects covered by IDEERS include Technology, Science, Maths and Geography. Children who have participated in the project have thoroughly enjoyed it, especially seeing the models tested to destruction. Teachers too have commented that they have learnt a lot from IDEERS. DESIGN A JUMPSUIT COMPETITION The competition to design a groovy outfit for jumping in is still open … so if you’ve got some good ideas, or you know someone else who might have, get them to enter! There will be a scientastic prizes for the best designs. The address to send your design to is: Science Year Giant Jump Design Challenge, 11 Tufton Street, London SW1P 3QB. Jump Menu • Initial results • Final results • Measuring • Witness Statement • Fun Facts • Jump Meters • Web Links • Competitions • launch day diary • Curriculum Links