Computing whizz kids gear up for university challenge

Published On Fri 15 Jun 2018 by Jonathan Watson

Scottish school pupils will demonstrate their computing prowess next week when they clash keyboards for the University of Dundee’s Strathmore Trophy.

Teams from 15 secondary schools will take part in the annual event on Monday 18 June, which challenges the programmers of tomorrow to complete a complex task set by staff from the University’s Computing department.

Teams of four S1 pupils spend a morning at the Queen Mother Building on campus, under the tutelage of the department’s experts. Though the youngsters are only told of their assignment when they arrive, previous challenges have seen teams tasked with finding alternative uses for fitness bands, developing a phone app from scratch, and creating an interactive t-shirt.

The competition is now entering its 23rd year, with the trophy having been donated by Mary, Dowager Countess of Strathmore in 1996.

Dr Iain Murray, organiser of the event, said that staff were consistently surprised by the creativity of the competing pupils.

“Once again we are delighted to welcome schools from across Scotland to contest the Strathmore Trophy. Every year we try and make our task challenging and fun for the pupils and we are looking forward to seeing how they cope with this year’s assignment.

“We are always amazed by the ingenuity of Scotland’s young people when competing for this prize and all of the staff here at the University’s Computing department are excited to see what this year’s entrants come up with.”

The schools taking part this year are:

  • Arbroath Academy
  • Balwearie High School, Kirkcaldy
  • Bathgate Academy
  • Beath High School, Cowdenbeath
  • Blairgowrie High School
  • Braeview Academy, Dundee
  • Craigie High School, Dundee
  • Dollar Academy
  • Grove Academy, Dundee
  • Harris Academy, Dundee
  • High School of Dundee
  • McLaren High School, Callander
  • Morrison’s Academy, Crieff
  • Perth Grammar School
  • Perth High School

 

Further information on the Strathmore Trophy can be found here.


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Jonathan Watson
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University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 381489
Email: j.s.watson@dundee.ac.uk