3rd Years get "techy" at Microsoft Research Headquarters

Several 3rd year senior school pupil teams got the chance to visit Microsoft Research HQ in Cambridge last week as they made the grand finals of the national Microsoft STEM Student Challenge. 

The Microsoft STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Student Challenge aims to help UK students connect the dots between the STEM subjects they study today and the impact those subjects could have on their ability to be part of the next generation of technology heroes. Microsoft's challenge to students was worded as "we invite students to use their knowledge of STEM subjects and marry it with research and creativity to imagine and depict their vision of technology in 2037."

Competition was fierce as all 12 teams from schools across the country had to present their ideas to a panel of 3 judges and a lecture theatre full of people. 

After presenting their ideas, the students were given a tour of the Microsoft labs and were shown some emerging technologies currently being worked on, which included the Micrsoft Hololens, the Torino coding system and producing music using a system of coding called Sonic Pi. 

Unfortunately our budding 3rd year teams walked away from the Microsoft STEM student challenge without a prize this time.  Despite this they all had a thoroughly enjoyable and eye opening day trying out lots of emerging technologies and meeting Microsoft engineers and scientists!