News Release, Friday 29 April 2022 2022

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CARRONSHORE’S FLOOD FIXERS WADE INTO FIRST PLACE AS WINNERS OF THE GRANGEMOUTH FLOOD PROTECTION SCHEME’S STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMME

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• The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme has announced the winners of its STEM education programme for schools

• The Flood Fixers from Carronshore Primary School have been awarded first place

• The Flood Breakers from Bowhouse Primary and The Tsunamis from Moray Primary, were Highly Commended for their designs

• The Dancing Dinosaurs from the Grangemouth Sea Cadets won the Community Group

• The programme for primary schools was developed by the Jacobs STEM team in conjunction with Falkirk Council’s Children’s Services

• As part of the programme, local children learned more about the effects of flooding and designed their own flood protection solutions

• The winning designs will be presented at the INNOVATE Science Festival at the Zetland Park Science Festival on 7th May 2022

• STEM is curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four disciplines – science, technology, engineering and mathematics

• The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme (GFPS) will protect 5,800 people, 2,650 homes, 330 businesses and road and rail infrastructure

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The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme has announced the winners of its STEM education programme for schools, which aims to inspire the next generation of original thinkers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Taking the top spot are The Flood Fixers from Carronshore Primary School who were awarded first place. The group really impressed the judges with their carefully considered flood design, which was presented in a clear and concise way and supported by very detailed diagrams.

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Carronshore Primary School teacher, Karen Mardon, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the win. The children worked so hard, and it was a brilliant learning experience for everyone involved. It was also a good project in terms of developing the skills needed for high school.”

The Flood Breakers from Bowhouse Primary and The Tsunamis from Moray Primary, were Highly Commended for their designs which really considered the community around the scheme, one of which even explored flood protection strategies in French.

The Dancing Dinosaurs from the Grangemouth Sea Cadets won the Community Group prize after impressing the judges with their breadth of knowledge and ability to answer technical questions on flood protection.

Congratulating the winners, Alistair Dawson, Infrastructure Projects Manager at Falkirk Council, said: “There were some really strong submissions in our very first STEM programme. I would like to say a very well done to all of the children and teachers for putting the hard work in.

 

“I was really impressed by just how much time the students had taken over their entries and the depth of research that they had cleverly translated into their models. To see their ambition, passion and enthusiasm is truly inspiring - congratulations to all those involved."

Over 450 local school children took part in the STEM programme which was developed by consultants Jacobs in conjunction with Falkirk Council’s Children’s Services.

The children had to find out more about flooding and its devastating effects, then using what they had learned, participating teams were given the challenge of designing and showcasing their own flood protection solutions. The entries from groups from 12 primary schools were then made into videos and presented to a panel of industry experts.

Jacobs’ Principle Social Value Consultant Rachael Cassidy, who developed the STEM programme with colleagues, said “The GFPS STEM education programme aims to provide young people with a challenging and supportive environment to help inspire the problem solvers of the future.

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“By using the basic building blocks of reading, writing and mathematics, participants were shown how they can apply these skills in real-life situations and unleash the potential that exists within each and every one of them.”

The winning designs will be showcased at a special prizegiving at the INNOVATE Science Festival taking place in Zetland Park, Grangemouth on Saturday, 7th May 2022. The programme is expected to be rolled out to Primary and Secondary schools again in 2023.

Ends

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Notes to Editors:

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Falkirk Council is leading the development of Scotland’s largest flood protection scheme. Backed by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). It is seen as the highest priority flood protection scheme in Scotland.

The Grangemouth Flood Protection Scheme will protect 5,800 people, 2,650 homes, 330 businesses and road and rail infrastructure. It will also provide almost 27km (17 miles) of flood defence walls, embankments, the installation of flood gates, flow regulation measures and drainage work. The scheme will also include works at the entrance to the Port of Grangemouth and within the petrochemical complex.

Climate change and the risk of flooding is on the rise and can result in more frequent intense rainfall and higher sea levels, unfortunately Grangemouth and surrounding areas are affected by both tidal and river flooding. The scheme is seen as unique as it covers coastal flooding from the Forth Estuary and river flooding from the River Carron, River Avon and the Grange Burn. Falkirk Council is determined to provide better protection for the town and surrounding areas and is working with its consultant Jacobs to design, plan and manage the new flood defences.

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Follow us on twitter and Facebook @grangemouthfps. 

For more information please contact:
Julie Pirone
Communications and Stakeholder Manager, Jacobs
julie.pirone@jacobs.com
07711 446358

 

Lisa Phillips

Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, Jacobs

lisa.phillips@jacobs.com

David Grindlay
Communications Team Leader, Falkirk Council
07803 898008
 

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