18 June 2001

photo opportunity 12.45pm, Tuesday 19 June, Applied Computing Department, University of Dundee.

The year 2001 has long been linked to travel in space, and school children from around Tayside will launch themselves into the subject tomorrow Tuesday 18 June 2001 as part of the annual Strathmore Trophy competition being held at the University of Dundee.

The department of Applied Computing will ask the pupils to explore the problems associated with living and travelling in space, using their ingenuity to develop a solution. Dr Steve Parkes, head of the Space Systems Research Group will introduce the competition by describing some of the work going on in the Applied Computing Department and Satellite Receiving Station.

Lecturer Iain Murray, one of the organisers, said "Space science has not progressed as far as the film '2001' predicted, but space research is still an active field of research here in Dundee and around the world. The competition will allow the pupils to get involved in thinking about the problems of space travel."

12 teams from 6 secondary schools from across the region will take part in the competition, hoping to collect the Strathmore Trophy and £100 worth of computer hardware for their school. Mary, Countess of Strathmore, who donated the magnificent trophy for the competition will present it to the winners. Other prizes include computer software, sportswear and book tokens.

The Strathmore Trophy competition is an annual event to encourage local school pupils to think about practical and useful applications of computer technology.

Contact: Dr. Iain Murray,
Dept. of Applied Computing, University of Dundee.
(01382) 344155
e-mail: irmurray@computing.dundee.ac.uk