Eggcellent challenge takes students to Mars during Enterprise Week

7th Nov 2007

Eggs will be flying during Enterprise Week (12-19 November) as more than 40 students from schools in Camborne, St Austell and Saltash test their engineering and entrepreneurial skills in a challenge set down by the South West MAS.

Young Enterprise SW, Cornwall College and South West MAS have joined together to hold ‘All the King’s Men’ which will see pupils from year 10 and 11 (14 to 16-years-old) work in teams to land an egg safely from a height using materials such as ping pong balls, drinking straws and polystyrene cups. Each team will be given a budget to purchase materials which they will then use to design a rocket for their egg with the aim of landing it safely on a mocked up surface of Mars.

The challenge is being held as part of Enterprise Week, an annual UK-wide week of activities and events aimed at encouraging enterprising behaviour in young people. Last year 1,410 organisations led 3,184 events attended by 448,000 young people. The week has been so successful that the USA and India are following suit and holding their own versions.

Martyn Pearson, specialist at the South West MAS, commented on the skills tested by the egg challenge: “Teams are being asked to design and build a prototype taking into account cost, design specifications and miles travelled to Mars to assess carbon emissions. Presentations will be done in front of a panel in a Dragon’s Den style with winners taking home a prize for the pitch, team working and the egg protection capability of their rocket.

“On first glance the challenge may seem simple but it tests many personal qualities and skills from financial management, problem solving and innovation to team working, project management and communication – factors which are vital for business success.”

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