STEPS to engineering K'NEX Challenge 2008

Steps to engineering are pleased to announce the appointment of Caitríona Geraghty and Mark Noonan as the 2007-2008 K'NEX Challenge Project Coordinators.

The STEPS to engineering K'NEX Challenge, which is in its sixth year running, has taken off again with 750 schools around the country participating in this fun and interactive programme.

The success of this programme is largely dependant on the engineers who kindly give their time to the programme and who are dedicated to developing the future engineers of Ireland.

Volunteer engineers are needed across Ireland to help complete the challenges before May; each Challenge takes approximately two hours and dates are always arranged according to the engineers' availability. To volunteer, please contact us on 01-6140010 or email knex@steps.ie.

Children around the country take part in the K'NEXperience

This year, 750 classes around the country took part in the pilot year of the STEPS to engineering K'NEXperience. This programme, similar to the STEPS to engineering K'NEX Challenge was designed to encourage young pupils to explore the world of science and engineering in a hands-on way.

Classes were asked to choose an engineering invention that would represent the theme of celebrating the past or creating the future. Projects received included such themes as: railways, playgrounds, footbridges, futuristic cars, airplanes, schools and much more.

We also had the pleasure of having this year's programme highlighted at the BT Young Scientist in January. Four students from Gaelscoil Ó Doghair in Limerick created a solar panel electric guitar from K'NEX toys as their project submission.

All projects will now be reviewed and judged by a panel of engineers who will have the difficult task of choosing an overall winning class to reward with a Magical Science and Engineering Show for their whole school.