UK student wins international prize

A student from Canford School in Dorset has scooped the top engineering prize in the 2005 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona.

Richard Entwisle (18), a student from Canford School in Dorset, has just returned home flushed with success having scooped the top engineering prize in the 2005 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona.

Entwisle's prize winning device enables the height of a wheelchair to be automatically adjusted by the occupant to suit different needs, for example when eating at a table, working on a computer, or to rise above the rest to gain a better view of an event.

Entwisle's device had already won him a top prize in last year's Young Engineers for Britain and YEDA competition, and it was this that gave him the opportunity to travel to Phoenix as a guest of the organizers to take part in an international field of 1500 competitors, 250 of which were in the engineering category.

His prize was $3000 and a sightseeing tour of famous American attractions.

In addition he had a comet named after him.

"I had a fantastic week in Phoenix", said Entwisle, "which included a trip to the Grand Canyon, a visit to an authentic 'Wild West' town and a round of golf on a championship golf course".

"Then, to cap it all, I was flown to New York to appear on the NBC Today programme".

"There is no doubt that entering the Young Engineers for Britain and YEDA competitions changed my life and has convinced me now to pursue an engineering career, I would certainly recommend any student to contact Young Engineers if they want an exciting start in engineering and technology".

Entwisle has been interested in making things work for as long as he can remember starting by building machines such as Martian buggies from Lego Technic and K'Nex.

When he was 13 he went to Canford School, where he developed his interest further and his parents even bought him a MIG welding machine, which enabled him to add a new dimension to his model building.

He now looks forward to beginning an engineering degree course at Warwick University in October.

Accompanying Entwisle on the trip to America were two other winners from last year's Young Engineers' competition: Jason Lowe from Lancaster Royal Grammar School with his novel decorator's gadget for cleaning paint rollers, and Peter Kirkland from Dalriada School in County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a portable scientific instrument, which links an inclinometer and GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) that he designed to help geologists determine the structure of rocks.

Kirkland joined Entwisle among the prizes receiving not only $3000 as a winner in three further categories, but also the added bonus of a trip to China.

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