CHESTER MP Stephen Mosley has congratulated two A level students after they reached the final of the British Science Association’s National Science & Engineering Competition.
The competition, aimed at showcasing some of the country’s brightest talents in the fields of Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, took place at the annual Big Bang Fair at London’s Excel Centre.
Jessica Birt, of Bishops’ Bluecoat High School in Chester, was awarded the runner-up prize in the Science and Mathematics 17-18 year old category for her project Behavioural Ecology of the Pteronura Brasiliensis (Giant Otters) at the Chester Zoological Gardens.
Jessica, who hopes to go on to study medicine at university, said: “The project itself was really enjoyable. I got to spend my summer in Chester Zoo studying one of the rarest captive animals in the world. The zoo has since installed an underwater viewing area as part of the giant otter enclosure after I suggested it would be a good idea.”
Ben Moss, from The King’s School, was also awarded a High Commendation in the Engineering and Technology 17-18 year old category for his project The Use of Low Powered Lasers and Fibre Optics in the Design of a Robotic Finger.
RAF Cadet Ben said, “I would’ve liked to have shown Stephen the robotic hand I made as part of the project, but feared it wouldn’t survive the tube journey.”
Stephen Mosley MP, himself a chemistry graduate and member of the Science and Technology Select Committee, invited Jessica and Ben to Westminster to talk about their projects and for a tour of the Houses of Parliament.
“I thought it would be a nice opportunity while they were in London to show them around Parliament.
“I have personally always taken a great enthusiasm and excitement from the sciences, and I was delighted to discover that two students from Chester had reached the finals of this extremely prestigious competition.”
“They have done tremendously well with their projects and I’m sure both have a very bright future ahead of them.”
