GREENWOOD Academy pupils shined at a recent engineering and science event in Dumfries House.

The estate’s Morphy Richards Engineering Education Centre hosted a hive of activity as around 90 budding engineers and scientists.

This included a team from Greenwood Academy, who participated in the Young Engineers and Science Clubs’ (YESC) Ayrshire regional celebration.

Pupils presented their classwork to judges from local companies Barr Environmental and Merck.

They then took on challenges set by a range of companies who have partnered with Dumfries House, including BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, William Grant and Sons Distillers, Booth Welsh, Scottish Power, Royal Navy, and NXP Semiconductors.

A host of fun, messy science tasks were offered by The Institute of Physics.

Pupils from Greenwood Academy prevailed in the ‘three minute challenge’ and received a special award for their efforts.

Caroline Kennedy, STEM co-ordinator and biology teacher at the school, believes the event proved motivating for her pupils.

Caroline said: “The experience the young people have gained from the STEM activities designed by YESC has been unprecedented.

"The young people have gained life skills that will benefit them in their future, both is school and in the wider field.

"On the day the group worked extremely well together and gained first prize for the team challenges.

"The experience and the facilities at Dumfries House are exceptionable and I hope we will be back again next year.”

Karen Alexander, head of STEM education at Dumfries House, said: “It was a pleasure to host schools from all over Ayrshire and to welcome our valued industry partners to the YESC event.

"We are really encouraged by the way school staff and pupils are embracing science, technology, engineering, and maths, and we hope everyone left the event inspired to go further in these subject areas and to return to Dumfries House for similar future activities and school residential trips.”