Regrettably, due to school closures enforced by the January lockdown in England, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 3M Young Innovators Challenge competition.
Many of the Challenges require close collaboration and teamworking which would no longer be possible, and we do not wish to add to the already significant workload that teachers and parents face in moving again to remote learning.
The competition is always a highlight of our year and we are very disappointed that we cannot continue as planned. We look forward to engaging with you again in 2022.
3M will pay for entries for the AeroTech Challenge to be submitted for a British Science Association CREST Discovery Award. See our Terms and Conditions. Please indicate your consent on the Entry Form.
Closing date for entries: 25 March 2021
Virtual judging: 21, 22 and 23 April 2021 by Microsoft Teams meeting. Please indicate your preferred judging date/time on the entry form.
Please make sure that (i) the aircraft and launching device are only made from materials from the Materials List (ii) the aircraft does not exceed the weight limit (iii) the launching device does not exceed the maximum dimensions. Flight testing should be done indoors wherever possible to avoid the effect of windspeed on distance travelled. Please mark a launch line on the floor and place the launching device behind this. Launch the aircraft three times and measure the longest distance out of three attempts in metres and centimetres. Measure the distance travelled in a straight line from the 'launch line' to the nearest point of the aircraft. Any extra distance gained by the aircraft skidding along the ground should not be counted. Remember to film the testing and measuring as part of the video summary.
Up to 30 marks for the distance covered by the aircraft
Up to 20 marks for STEM learning into aircraft design and factors affecting flight including forces, gravity and resistance
Up to 20 marks for design and construction including material experimentation, prototyping, design modifications and overcoming problems and challenges
Up to 15 marks for visual appearance/aesthetics of the aircraft
Up to 15 marks for the presentation and video
Total marks available = 100
The students’ year group will be taken into account when awarding marks.
Judges will select 4-6 finalists who will be invited to attend the virtual 3M Young Innovators Challenge presentation event on Thursday 10 June, 2021.
Links to Science Curriculum (England)
Year 3
Forces and magnets
Year 5
Forces
Links to Design and Technology Curriculum (England)
Key stage 2
When designing and making, pupils should be taught to:
Design
Make
Technical knowledge
Links to Mathematics Curriculum (England)
Please download these important documents for the AeroTech Challenge. Please save the entry form to your device and send as a file attachment to younginnovators@mmm.com.
If you have any questions, please Get in Touch.
Please see our Terms and Conditions.
Judges
Jennifer Glover is in her final year of a PhD at Loughborough University, researching jet engine noise reduction through sound proofing panels. Jennifer has a Masters’ degree in Aeronautical Engineering; has reached engineering technician level in the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and is an associate fellow of Higher Education. She is a very active member of the Women’s Engineering Society being the Student Liaison Officer and a member of both the Membership and Communication Director's committees. As a STEM Ambassador, Jennifer is passionate about encouraging all into engineering; promoting a better understanding of what engineers do; and inclusivity for minorities, including women and those with neurodiversity. Jennifer herself has dyslexia, autism and Meares-Irlen Syndrome.
Chris Bishop is a Principal Project Engineer at Kindeva Drug Delivery. He graduated from Cambridge University in 1998 with a Masters’ degree in Engineering and managed engineering projects for 3M before moving to Kindeva. A Chartered Engineer and STEM Ambassador, Chris enjoys delivering maths and engineering-based activities in primary schools, and lives in Loughborough with his wife and two young children.