The whole of Year 8 took up the Squash Tomato Challenge as part of the Y8 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) day run by Science Oxford.

The challenge –  A real life problem affecting people in Nepal to design and build a model to move tomatoes down a mountain.

The problem: In Nepal many farmers living on the mountainside grow fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes. To earn a living, they need to sell these at the local market.  The problem is getting to market involves a long, dangerous walk down the mountain side and over a river, at the end of which the tomatoes may well be a bit squashed.

The challenge: To design, build and test a way of moving tomatoes that won’t squash them!

Students were helped in this challenge by guests from industry supplied by Science Oxford including an Electronics Engineer from Diamond Light Source, Biophysicist from Oxford University, Geologist, Engineer from the National Grid and a Software Engineer.

The winning Team on the day came from 8WS tutor group:

Isabelle Blundell, Charlie Burnett, Josh Flaxman, Scarlett Goodway, and  Cole Davies.