Juniors fly the UK engineering flag in the USA

Three intrepid young British scientists and engineers are in the USA to represent their country in the Intel-sponsored International Science and Engineering Fair.

Three intrepid young British scientists and engineers are in the USA to represent their country in the Intel-sponsored International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Atlanta, Georgia.

Each has earned the right following their successes in either the Young Engineer for Britain contest, which is run annually by Young Engineers, a charitable organisation with a major role in the Royal Academy of Engineering's BEST programme, or in the CREST Awards at the UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair, which is organised by the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Ruth Amos (18) from Sheffield, whose novel Stair-Steady device won her the 2006 Young Engineer for Britain title, and Thomas Pitts (19), From Stamford, Lincolnshire, whose Profile automatic benchtop filing machine won him the Craftsmanship and Finish Young Engineer prise in 2007, are flying the British engineering flag at ISEF; whereas Alex White, from the King's School in Chester, is the UK's science hope after winning his place at the UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair.

Amos has already taken her award-winning device to market and now, sponsored by Forgemaster of Sheffield, hopes it will win international acclaim.

The Stair-Steady is designed to help the elderly or physically impaired to negotiate stairs on their own two feet.

Pitts' Profile benchtop machine can be preprogrammed to allow complex workpieces to be filed to precision tolerances.

White conducted his CREST Award project at the University of Liverpool after receiving a Nuffield Bursary.

Analysing the synthesis and catalytic properties of a novel group of materials, he found that they have potential to be used as catalysts in safer, more environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical reactions widely used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.

The three are up against stiff opposition from hundreds of other competitors representing the cream of young scientific and engineering talent across the world.

ISEF takes place from 11th to 16th May 2008.

"Win or lose, this is a chance of a lifetime", says Ruth Amos: "I'm so pleased I entered Young Engineer for Britain, it's really opened doors for me, not only helping me to get my project manufactured commercially, but also in providing me with lots of exciting opportunities like representing my country at ISEF.

Engineering is so exciting and many young people simply don't understand what it is really about, they are missing out on so much by not getting involved in programmes like Young Engineers".

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