Trade News
Guildford, UK, 24 March 2010 - Godalming College are the winners of this year’s BOC Inspiring Gases Challenge for their innovative engineering solutions to a real-life challenge. The seven schools that entered this year’s competition were challenged to understand the science and engineering behind some of BOC’s air separation technology and propose ways in which the process could be carried out differently. The four schools attending the finals at BOC’s Guildford headquarters on 18 March impressed the judges with the way they had grasped the theory and had presented their business case for change.
“All the presentations we saw this year were well thought out and imaginative,” commented Mike Dennis, BOC’s Business Director. “They were all of an exceptionally high standard and it was very difficult to choose an overall winner.”
The competition invited Year 12 (16-17 year old) students to model the process of cooling air prior to its separation into oxygen, nitrogen and argon. This is the fundamental process behind the bulk of BOC’s business. For the colleges involved, it provided an opportunity to get to grips with the way science and technology are used in the real world. In another reflection of the real world of engineering, they were asked to formulate their findings in a formal presentation, as though they were making a formal business case for their ideas.
Godalming College chemistry teacher Fiona Kennard said: “We are delighted to win this award. The students have worked very hard, developing their own ideas, building the model themselves and preparing the presentation. They’ve worked very well as a team.”
Photo
A photo of the winners is available from Simon Napper at BOC. Email: simon.napper@boc.com Tel: 07500 815166.
Caption: The winners of the BOC Inspiring Gases Challenge from Godalming College. From left: Richard Jenkins, Sophie Jackman, Adam Kitchen and Nick Brookes
Notes to editors
The Inspiring Gases Challenge involves schools and colleges around the Surrey area developing a product using industrial gases. This year’s competition began in October with the final being held at BOC’s Guildford site on 25 March.
The four colleges that took part in the final were:
· Farnborough Sixth Form College
· Godalming College
· Howard of Effingham School
· St Peter’s Catholic Comprehensive, Guildford
The Inspiring Gases Challenge is organised annually by BOC, in cooperation with educational charity Surrey Satro.
The runners-up in this year’s competition were Farnborough Sixth Form College.
BOC
BOC is a member of The Linde Group. An industrial, medical and special gases provider, the company supplies compressed and bulk gases, chemicals and equipment. For more than a century the company's gases and expertise have contributed to advances in many areas of everyday life, and industries including steelmaking, refining, chemical processing, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, welding and cutting, food processing and distribution, glass production, electronics and health care.
For more information see BOC online at www.BOConline.co.uk
The Linde Group
The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.
For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com
For further information about this release please contact: Simon Napper on + 44 (0) 1483 244515, email simon.napper@boc.com