Photos of Tom Parry Jones on display at the station.
BRIGHTEST PUPILS GIVEN TOM PARRY JONES AWARD
Three of the brightest secondary school pupils in Wales were praised for their skills and understanding of science and engineering and awarded the Engineering Education Scheme for Wales (EESW) “Dr Tom Parry Jones Student of the Year Award” on 4th December 2014 during the Welsh Automotive Forum’s networking dinner at the Vale Hotel, Llantrisant.
The highly successful Engineering Education Scheme for Wales (EESW) has been giving a hands on experience of industry to sixth formers in Wales for the last 25 years. The award is in honour of the late Dr Thomas Parry Jones OBE, a long standing Trustee of EESW, who is best known as the inventor of the Electronic Breathalyser. Dr Jones’ widow, Raj herself a scientist, who is supporting the awards said, “Tom believed very strongly in promoting science & engineering among young people and recognised its long term value to the Welsh economy”. These awards she hoped will promote and celebrate the young talent we have in Wales.
Group photo at the ceremony
The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Mrs Edwina Hart, presented three outstanding students with their awards in front of over 250 leading figures from the automotive, aerospace and engineering sectors in Wales and the UK.
Raj and some of the winners
Making the awards to the students in front of parents and teachers at the dinner, The Minister said, “I would like to congratulate the winners and all those who took part on the high standard of this year’s competition. These awards recognise engineering excellence in our schools and hopefully generate more interest in the subject.
Encouraging more young people to take up STEM subjects is a very important element of the Welsh Government’s long-term vision for creating a strong Welsh Economy”.
Some of the pupils and their awards
The EESW Dr Tom Parry Jones Student of the Year Award 2014 was given to Angus Coyne-Grell, of Ysgol Friars, Bangor, who worked with the Photonics Academy at Bangor University on a project entitled “ Laser operated Photonics Breath Peak Flow Rate Meter”.
Runners up were Callum Jones, again from Ysgol Friars, who also worked with the Photonics Academy, North Wales and Ruth Harvey from Gower College. Ruth looked at a Tidal Lagoon on a project entitled, “Find Alternative Ways of Generating Sustainable Electricity using Macro Algae”.
The Tom parry Jones Student of the Year Award provides funds to winners towards their future studies in science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) based subjects.
Raj and the winners with their awards
The winners already hold GOLD Crest Awards for their work in STEM subjects while at secondary school and they have expressed their wish to continue studies at Cambridge. All three made excellent acceptance speeches and thanked their teachers and mentors and EESW in particular for giving them the opportunity to work in a team and to tackle real problems.
The seven shortlisted entrants for the 2014 awards were interviewed by Robert Cater, CEO of EESW, Tim Williams, CEO of Automotive Forum and Raj Jones, scientist and widow of Dr Tom Parry jones.
Mr Cater said of them,” They were all exceptional and gave remarkable presentations with confidence and knowledge, which showed they fully understood the projects”
Mr Williams added, “It was difficult to pick the best from a very good entry this year and I am sure the winners and finalists will go on to very enjoyable and worthwhile careers at the top of their league.
Raj Jones said that she was impressed with their extra-curricular interests and reading. They seemed well rounded. She also felt that a huge credit must go to their teachers and mentors.
The Dr Tom Parry Jones Student of the Year award is growing in importance every year and details of the 2015 scheme will be unveiled next spring.
EESW (English Site)
EESW (Welsh Site)
